National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8390
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-20: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-11T08:06:45Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation establishes the National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026. It aims to create or grow programs that use food interventions to help prevent or treat nutrition-related chronic health conditions, reduce food and nutrition insecurity, and improve overall health outcomes, primarily through partnerships between healthcare and agriculture.
Key Provisions
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services must create a grant program for states to plan, implement, expand, or evaluate Food as Medicine programs. These programs operate under existing Medicaid waivers and supply medically supportive food and nutrition interventions to eligible individuals.
- States must apply for grants, and priority goes to those partnering with networks of health providers (including community clinics) or organizations supplying locally or regionally sourced agricultural products grown using regenerative or organic methods.
- Grant funds support interventions such as tailored meals, produce prescriptions from grocery stores or farmers' markets, and paired nutrition counseling or cooking education.
- States receiving grants must submit reports after three years detailing impacts on health outcomes, hospital use, emergency room visits, and other measures.
- The Secretary of Agriculture must form cooperative agreements with land-grant universities, food hubs, or regional food business centers to offer technical help and infrastructure support to producers connecting with healthcare providers. Priority targets beginning farmers, socially disadvantaged farmers, and those using regenerative or organic methods.
- Within one year, the Secretary of Health and Human Services must issue guidance on program implementation, including how to include food insecurity in eligibility, set intervention duration and dosage, encourage value-based food procurement favoring socially disadvantaged producers, and support provider training. A 30-day public comment period applies before finalizing guidance.
- The Secretary of Health and Human Services, consulting with the Secretary of Agriculture, must submit a report to Congress within one year of the first grant award, summarizing state findings and best practices.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill introduces new federal grant and technical assistance programs focused on food interventions in healthcare. It expands use of section 1115 Medicaid waivers specifically for these programs and creates detailed definitions for "covered methods of production" (regenerative, organic, or combined) and "medically supportive food and nutrition interventions." It also requires new guidance on procurement incentives and eligibility tied to food insecurity, building on but not directly amending core Medicaid statutes.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of Health and Human Services (grant administration, guidance, reporting) and the Department of Agriculture (technical assistance and producer support), with required coordination between the two.
- On citizens: May improve access to prescribed nutritious food for people with chronic conditions or food insecurity, potentially lowering healthcare utilization such as hospital readmissions.
- On international relations: None identified in the legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- State governments and Medicaid agencies.
- Healthcare providers, including federally qualified health centers and managed care organizations.
- Farmers and ranchers, especially beginning and socially disadvantaged producers.
- Community organizations, food hubs, and regional food business centers.
- Patients eligible for Medicaid or similar programs who face chronic conditions or nutrition insecurity.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The bill relies on existing Medicaid waiver authority rather than creating new entitlement programs, which may limit its scope to approved state demonstrations. It emphasizes community-based and culturally appropriate verification for organic production and includes public comment requirements for guidance, potentially affecting how programs are designed at the state level. No constitutional issues are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-20: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-20: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-20: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-20 — PDF (14 pages)