Food and nutrition affect health in multiple ways, from diet-sensitive conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes to broader impacts on mental health, quality of life, and immune response. Structural barriers to accessing nutritious foods disproportionately affect communities with existing health inequities. People facing food insecurity incur an estimated $1,863 more in annual health care expenses compared to the general population.

In response, health care providers are implementing “Food is Medicine” programs to improve health outcomes through better nutrition. Historically funded through grants, these interventions are increasingly reimbursed by health care payers. Several states provide Medicaid coverage for medically tailored meals and other nutrition interventions through various authorities, including 1115 demonstrations, in lieu of services, and home- and community-based services waivers. Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy for individuals with diabetes, kidney disease, and recent kidney transplants. And, as of 2020, Medicare Advantage plans can offer meal delivery and healthy grocery benefits for people with chronic conditions.

Types of nutrition interventions include medically tailored meals, healthy grocery programs, produce prescriptions, nutrition and culinary counseling/education, nutrition case management, and food assistance programs. While the evidence base for these interventions is still emerging due to their novelty in health care settings, they are grounded in research demonstrating the link between nutrition and health.

Health care stakeholders can use this Playbook Collection to explore evidence-based and promising nutrition interventions, with a primary focus on medically tailored meals, healthy grocery, and produce prescription programs.