Medicaid Scientific Technical Assistance Program
Through a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and generous support from the Walmart Foundation, the Health Care by Food initiative (HCXF) provides no-cost advice and scientific support to state Medicaid agencies to design and implement more effective, cost-effective and impactful food is medicine programs.
Our technical assistance supports food is medicine initiatives through 1115 waivers, ILOS authorities, and state funded pilots. The guidance is focused on ensuring that program designs are sustainable and optimized for long-term success.
In addition to direct technical assistance, HCXF hosts semiannual roundtables for state Medicaid leaders to foster collaboration and practical insights that can help accelerate adoption nationwide. For more information on technical assistance or roundtable opportunities, contact us at [email protected].
Technical Assistance Areas
- Pairing nutrition interventions with clinical populations most likely to benefit
- Participant recruitment and retention strategies
- A/B Testing and rapid cycle innovation approaches for faster learning
- Common measures and recommended strategies for data collection
- Evaluation design, with a focus on clinical, health care utilization, health care spending outcomes
Our Experts
Seth Berkowitz
Seth Berkowitz, MD, MPH is the Lead for the Health Care by Food Medicaid Nutrition Assistance Technical Assistance Program. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in the Division of General Medicine & Clinical Epidemiology, and the lead evaluator for health-related social needs for North Carolina Section 1115 Waiver Demonstration. He is a general internist and primary care physician.
Kevin Volpp
Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD is the Scientific Lead of the Health Care by Food initiative. He is the Mark V. Pauly President’s Distinguished Professor at the Perelman School of Medicine and the Wharton School and the Director of the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Section 1115 Waiver Demonstration evaluation team and previously co-led a similar team for Kentucky.