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Originally Published: Feb 2, 2023

YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/QJbb_9zZW2E

Adequate access to nutritious food can help prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease and support physical and cognitive development, particularly in children. However, many individuals and communities, particularly those in low-income areas or rural communities, face significant barriers to accessing nutritious food. According to the USDA, in 2020, an estimated 11.1% of households (14.5 million households) were food insecure at some time during the year. The pandemic has dramatically increased food insecurity and these numbers likely undercount the true extent of it, as they are based on self-reported data. In September of 2022, the White House announced more than $8 billion in commitments to the "Food Is Medicine" (FIM) movement linking nutrition and chronic illness. Through medically tailored meals, groceries, and food assistance (such as produce vouchers), FIM programs provide healthy foods as methods of prevention and treatment. Many health systems and insurers are piloting programs to cover these services just as they would pharmaceutical prescriptions. But what will it take to scale these efforts for broader coverage and system impact? Hear from the pioneers in the Food is Medicine movement on how to scale FIM efforts in your organization.

• Aligning incentives around value-based care

Speakers: 

Roopa Kalyanaraman Marcello, MPH, CPH, Senior Director, Research and Evaluation Office of Ambulatory Care and Population Health, NYC Health + Hospitals 

Jorge Petit, MD, President and CEO, Services for the Underserved (S:US) 

Dorella Walters, MPA, Sr. Director of Business Development & Community Partnerships,God’s Love We Deliver 

Dr. Kimberly Noel, MD, MPH, Medical Director, 23andMe