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. 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 that include medically tailored meals, healthy grocery programs, produce prescriptions, nutrition and culinary counseling/education, nutrition case management, and food assistance programs. Historically funded through grants, these interventions are increasingly reimbursed by health care payers. Several states provide Medicaid coverage for nutrition interventions through various authorities. Medicare covers medical nutrition therapy under its Part B program for people with diabetes, kidney disease, and recent kidney transplants, and Medicare Advantage plans can offer select benefits for people with chronic conditions.

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

Explore the Collection to learn about:

Evidence

Case Examples

Implementation Tools