Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding shared a proposal designed to show how consistent access to healthy foods can make a tangible impact on a person’s health and wellbeing. Programs that use food as medicine in Pennsylvania and around the country have been shown to improve the trajectory of chronic illness and help shift health care spending.
The concept of using food as medicine is a key health care strategy that will invest $900,000 in state funding for a “Food Is Medicine” pilot program. Through the pilot program – part of a larger Investments in Health initiative in this budget – Medicaid recipients with certain diet-sensitive chronic health conditions will receive medically tailored meals that can improve their health and reduce health care spending.
“Our health is so much more than access to care – what we eat, where we live, and our sense of community and support affect how healthy we are, how we manage illness and disease, and our overall quality of life,” said Secretary Arkoosh. “Investments in Health is our opportunity to make strategic investments in proven prevention efforts like ‘Food Is Medicine’ that will help Pennsylvanians be healthier and improve our state’s financial health as well by using strategies that lower Medicaid spending. When we take a positive, proactive approach to improve Pennsylvanians’ health and quality of life, everyone benefits.”
Investments in Health will provide funding in three key areas:
- Food Is Medicine: $900,000 in state funds to leverage federal investment for a total of $2.3 million to support a pilot program that will bring medically tailored meals to Medicaid recipients with diet-sensitive health conditions;
- Reentry Supports: $900,000 in state funds to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.7 million that will support pre-release Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individuals returning to their communities from State Correctional Institutions; and
- Housing Stability: $1 million in state funding to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.5 million to launch a pilot that will help Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness connect to stable housing and services.
“What we eat has a profound impact on our health, yet too many Pennsylvanians face barriers to accessing the nutritious foods they need to prevent and manage chronic disease,” says Mark Edwards, President & CEO of The Food Trust. “Evidence-based Food Is Medicine programs like produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals and nutrition education are proven to address poor diets, in many cases with notable health and cost-savings outcomes. By investing in these programs, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to improve lives, strengthen communities, and support local farmers and food retailers at the same time.”
