All eyes are on California as one of the leaders attempting to transition its Food as Medicine (FAM) pilot implementation to a permanent Medicaid benefit through state legislation. In 2021, California adopted a 5-year 1115/1915(b) waiver, known as California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), to pilot non-traditional healthcare services, including FAM interventions, as services through the state's Medicaid program, which serves approximately 15 million low-income Californians (2024, Department of Health Care Services).

In 2024, the California Legislature passed AB 1975 with bi-partisan support, which would have transitioned FAM services to a permanent benefit, but the bill was ultimately vetoed due to state budget restraints. Advocates continue the work, running new legislation in 2025 off the momentum of AB1975.The panel will discuss 1) national policy mechanisms available to advocates wanting to incorporate similar services into their Medicaid program, 2) strategies for policy implementation, and 3) distilled learnings from program implementers including a San-Francisco-based Federally Qualified Health Center operating multiple FAM interventions, noting improved clinic staff morale and patient health outcomes.

Altogether, we are moving California and the nation towards more equitable patient care, one health system at a time.