Food As Medicine Policy and Advocacy

Why Food as Medicine Initiatives Matter

Food as Medicine initiatives improve health outcomes by integrating nutritious foods and evidence-based nutrition interventions directly into patient care. These programs help prevent, manage, and treat nutrition-related chronic conditions by ensuring individuals have access to the foods and nutrition services needed to support their health.

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTRs), play a central role in designing, delivering, and evaluating these interventions—ensuring they are safe, effective, culturally responsive, and grounded in clinical evidence.

Legislation

The Academy supports the following legislation advancing Food as Medicine initiatives:

The FOOD for Health Act

The FOOD for Health Act, formally titled Fueling Optimal Outcomes through Diet (FOOD) for Health Act, directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services to provide grants to Food as Medicine programs that prioritize local foods and regional diversity. The bill authorizes $20 million through FY 2031 and requires an initial report to Congress evaluating program effectiveness, patient health outcomes, and cost impacts.

Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meal Program Pilot Act

The Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act, also known as the MTM Bill, was introduced in the House as H.R.5439 and in the Senate as S.2834. This legislation seeks to establish a pilot program under Medicare to address the critical link between diet and health, particularly for older adults and individuals with disabilities who are medically vulnerable.

The National Food As Medicine Program Act

The National Food As Medicine Program Act (not yet reintroduced) would provide a comprehensive approach to addressing nutrition-related chronic conditions and enhancing public health by establishing a Food as Medicine Waiver Grant program. This program aims to help initiate, implement, and expand interventions that integrate food as a key component of medical care. Additionally, the act would establish a USDA Food as Medicine Technical Assistance Program, designed to help producers connect with local healthcare systems, enabling them to deliver Food as Medicine interventions to communities in need.

To further support these efforts, the act directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to develop and issue comprehensive guidance to states and counties. This guidance will assist in the planning, implementation, and expansion of Food as Medicine programs across the country. Furthermore, the act mandates that the HHS Secretary submit a report to Congress, providing an evaluation of the impact of these programs, ensuring transparency and accountability in their effectiveness in improving public health outcomes.

FAM Advocacy Resources

• Food as Medicine Legislative Issue Brief
• Academy's Food as Medicine Strategic Roadmap
• Academy's Food as Medicine Hub
• Academy Foundation's Food as Medicine Resources