Food Is Medicine: Prioritizing Equitable Implementation

Top Things to Know

FIM programs must reach uninsured and underinsured populations through community-based delivery models, ensuring that food-based health interventions are not limited to those with health care access.

Collaborations with organizations like food banks and federally qualified health centers can bridge gaps in care, making FIM programs more culturally relevant, scalable, and effective in addressing food insecurity and chronic disease.

Tapering strategies that gradually shift participants from intensive supports (e.g., medically tailored meals) to lighter-touch interventions (e.g., produce prescriptions) can help sustain healthy eating habits and improve self-efficacy.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

This editorial emphasizes the need for equitable implementation of Food is Medicine (FIM) programs, particularly healthy food prescriptions, medically tailored groceries, and meals. While FIM initiatives have gained momentum and bipartisan support, they risk excluding uninsured and underinsured populations who could benefit most. The authors advocate for a dual approach: strengthening health care–based FIM delivery while simultaneously building community-based pathways to reach those without adequate insurance. They highlight successful models like WIC and Recipe4Health, and recommend policy reforms to expand insurance coverage and incentivize partnerships with community organizations. Cultural responsiveness and program sustainability are also key, with calls for tailoring interventions to local preferences and designing tapering strategies that empower long-term dietary change. Ultimately, the editorial urges a systems-level strategy to ensure FIM programs reduce health disparities.