Advancing Food as Medicine Program Access Through Advocacy and Evidence-Based Practices

In 2022, the White House released a National Strategy with a goal to end hunger and increase healthy eating and physical activity by 2030 through transformative programs, policies and system changes. Pillar 2 of the strategy – Integrate Nutrition and Health – includes prioritizing the role of nutrition and food security through the expansion of Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries' access to "food as medicine" interventions, such as prescription programs and medically tailored meals. Food as medicine programs contribute to sustaining health, preventing disease and may be therapeutic.

What roles do registered dietitian nutritionists play in these programs, what challenges exist and how are some of these interventions paid for in the public and private sector? Speakers present emerging evidence, identify vehicles for the delivery of food as medicine interventions within the context of health care, provide an overview on current policy and legislation, identify revenue streams and mechanisms for payment, and share applications of case studies across practice settings.

CPE Level: Level 2 (intermediate knowledge/experience)
CPEU: 1.5

Performance Indicators

• 12.1.1 Advocates for and promotes food and nutrition programs and resources to address issues of food insecurity, nutritional health and overall health and wellness.
• 14.2.3 Synthesizes and analyzes data from multiple sources to manage organizational budgets.
• 6.2.3 Analyzes and interprets data to form valid conclusions and to make recommendations.

Learning Objectives

• Identify existing mechanisms that enable the allocation of health care payments for food as medicine interventions.
• Describe at least two outcomes of current research supporting health care savings and positive outcomes associated with food as medicine interventions.
• Describe at least two implementation strategies and positioning for RDNs in the execution of 'food as medicine' interventions.

Moderator

• Allison Yoder

Speakers

• Michelle Kuppich
• Caroline Passerrello
• Owen Ryan