Food and nutrition impact health in multiple ways, from diet-sensitive conditions like cardiovascular disease and diabetes to broader impacts on mental health, quality of life, and immune response. Historically funded through grants, health-related nutrition interventions are increasingly reimbursed by health care payers. Several states provide Medicaid coverage for these programs through various authorities, including 1115 demonstrations, in lieu of services, and home- and community-based services waivers.

In response, health care providers are implementing “Food is Medicine” interventions to improve patient health outcomes, particularly for individuals with complex needs. These interventions include medically tailored meals, healthy grocery programs, produce prescriptions, nutrition and culinary counseling/education, nutrition case management, and food assistance programs.

Health care stakeholders can use this Better Care Playbook Collection to understand evidence-based and promising nutrition interventions, with a primary focus on medically tailored meals, healthy grocery, and produce prescription programs.