Food is Medicine
About 85% of all health care spending is related to the management of diet-related chronic diseases
Food is Medicine (FIM) interventions can be considered as a spectrum of programs and services that respond to the critical link between nutrition and health, integrated into healthcare delivery. Examples include programs that provide nutritionally-appropriate food, for free or at a discount to individuals, to support disease management, disease prevention, or optimal health as part of the health care system as a component of an individual’s treatment plan.
We envision a future where FIM programs such as medically tailored meals (MTM), medically tailored groceries, and produce prescription programs are covered benefits for targeted populations in Medicare and Medicaid. FIM interventions have documented significant improvements in health outcomes and healthcare utilization, with evidence for cost-effectiveness and even net cost savings in some circumstances. These programs have rapidly gained interest among health care providers, health systems, payers, and patients as potential tools to improve clinical care for diet-related illness, especially for patients experiencing food and nutrition insecurity.
Food is Medicine: Dietary and Policy Priorities for Cardiometabolic Health
Our current goals in this area include:
- Piloting coverage of MTM in Medicare
- Testing Medicaid coverage of nutrition education and other nutrition supports using Medicaid section 1115 demonstration projects
- Increasing access to nutrition-related services through private insurance programs
- Supporting states in leveraging all available federal authorities to expand coverage of Food is Medicine interventions
- Support efforts to increase nutrition education for physicians
- Increasing patient access to registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) counseling for obesity and other diet-related conditions (for both Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries)
- Promoting the integration of food and nutrition security screening into the electronic health record
Tufts University is a leading institution in Food is Medicine research and advocacy. To learn more about our work in this area, visit our Food is Medicine website.
Check out more of our Food is Medicine Resources
Each year in the U.S., an estimated $13.6 billion would be saved if all eligible Americans received medically-tailored meal interventions in the healthcare system.
Food is Medicine Announcements
Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian Receives “Cultivating Innovation in Care Award” at Annual NACDS Foundation Dinner
NACDS Foundation President Sara Roszak presents the NACDS Foundation’s Cultivating Innovation in Care Award to Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian.
Feeding a Healthier America: Current Efforts and Potential Opportunities for Food is Medicine
Dariush Mozaffarian spoke before a United States Senate committee on Tuesday afternoon, May 21, to argue for quick Congressional action on bolstering food is medicine (FIM) initiatives throughout the country.
White House Includes Two Tufts-Related Initiatives in Commitments to End Hunger, Reduce Diet-Related Disease
Innovative new institute and collaborative alliance led by institute and Kaiser Permanente among initiatives highlighted.
Food is Medicine Articles
White House Includes Two Tufts-Related Initiatives in Commitments to End Hunger, Reduce Diet-Related Disease
Innovative new institute and collaborative alliance led by institute and Kaiser Permanente among initiatives highlighted.
Food is Medicine Institute Urges US Healthcare System to Recognize the Power of Good Nutrition
The US Food Is Medicine (FIM) Institute calls to implement FIM interventions across federal, regional and local levels to increase population-wide nutrition security, health equity and wellness.
Healthy Eating Rx: Improving Nutrition Through Health Care
Recognizing the potential of food-based interventions to improve health outcomes, Food is Medicine (FIM) integrates food-based programs and interventions at multiple levels of health care to address the specific health needs of certain populations.
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