National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a national grant program to expand 'Food as Medicine' inside Medicaid through state waiver projects. It would fund state programs that provide medically supportive meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition coaching, and other dietitian-led services.
Show full summary
- Families and Medicaid enrollees could receive tailored meals, produce prescriptions, nutrition coaching, and other medically supportive food services designed to reduce nutrition-related chronic conditions.
- States could get grants to plan, implement, expand, or evaluate Food as Medicine programs under Medicaid waivers. Recipients must report at least 3 years after a grant with evaluations using Medicaid data and measures like hospital admissions, medication use, emergency visits, and patient experience.
- Local farmers and food hubs would be prioritized because grants require use of locally or regionally sourced agricultural products grown by regenerative and/or organic methods, creating new demand for those producers.
- Health systems and clinics get priority when they partner with public, nonprofit, and community-based networks, including Federally Qualified Health Centers, to link clinical care and nutrition interventions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Food as Medicine Medicaid grants
If enacted, HHS would give grants to states to start, expand, or evaluate Food as Medicine programs through Medicaid section 1115 waivers. Grants would prioritize states with health-provider networks or partnerships with community producers of locally or regionally sourced food. Funds would pay for prescribed meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition coaching using locally- or regionally-sourced products grown under covered production methods. States would have to report to HHS at least 3 years after a grant. Reports would include Medicaid data, participant baseline health and nutrition, hospital and emergency room use, medication use, care engagement, patient experience, and recommendations. HHS would also publish guidance within one year on eligibility, duration, provider training, and managed-care procurement, with a 30-day public comment period and a 60-day waiting period after comments close before finalizing.
New rules and help for farmers
If enacted, the bill would define covered production methods as organic, regenerative, or both. Organic would include USDA organic certification or community-based culturally appropriate verification. Regenerative would require practices that build soil, protect water and air, sequester greenhouse gases, support wildlife, and foster community and worker wellness. USDA would fund cooperative agreements to give technical assistance and infrastructure so producers can connect with health care buyers in Food as Medicine programs. Priority would go to beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers and to producers using or transitioning to covered methods.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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