Policy
The Future of "Food is Medicine" is Now
Find out how policy is expanding "Food is Medicine" Initiatives all over the country
HHC Executive Director Jenn Bass on a panel discussing community based organizations role in the food is medicine landscape at the Grant-makers in Health Fall Forum in Washington DC.
The Biden-Harris Administration Announces More Than $8 Billion in New Commitments as Part of Call to Action for White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
On September 28, 2022, President Biden hosted the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to catalyze action for the millions of Americans struggling with food insecurity and diet-related diseases like diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. The conference layed out a vision for ending hunger and reducing diet-related diseases by 2030. Because they will require more than just the resources of the federal government, the White House launched a nationwide call to action to meet these ambitious goals. Americans responded to this call and advanced more than $8 billion in private- and public-sector commitments. At least $2.5 billion will be invested in start-up companies that are pioneering solutions to hunger and food insecurity. Over $4 billion will be dedicated toward philanthropy that improves access to nutritious food, promotes healthy choices, and increases physical activity.
The Biden-Harris Administration will: Expand Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries’ access to “food is medicine” interventions.
Food is medicine interventions—including medically tailored meals and groceries as well as produce prescriptions (fruit and vegetable prescriptions or vouchers provided by medical professionals for people with diet-related diseases or food insecurity)—can effectively treat or prevent diet-related health conditions and reduce food insecurity. The Biden-Harris Administration has recently supported legislation to create a pilot that tests covering medically tailored meals for individuals in traditional Medicare who are experiencing diet-related health conditions.
