Advancing Food is Medicine in Vermont

The Food is Medicine (FIM) Task Force is working to make sustainable Food is Medicine programs a reality in Vermont by developing a framework for reimbursement mechanisms that support access to nutritious, medically tailored foods for patients. Central to this effort is the creation of the FIM Benefit Coverage Framework, which will consist of three key components:

• Cost Effectiveness / ROI Report: Summarizing national research on the effectiveness of FIM programs in treating various health conditions and the resulting savings to the healthcare system. This will include Vermont-specific analysis, highlighting economic benefits such as support for local farmers.
• Patient Impact Synthesis: Sharing the voices and stories of Vermont patients participating in FIM programs to illustrate the real-world impact on their health and lives.
• Eligibility Framework: Defining eligibility criteria, types of qualifying programs, and sustainable reimbursement amounts.

The Task Force will use this framework to advocate for reimbursement mechanisms, including the 1115 Medicaid waiver, private insurance coverage, and potential legislative action to recognize FIM as an Essential Health Benefit.

This collaborative effort brings together organizations and leading experts from across Vermont and is supported by short-term technical assistance from Harvard Law School’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation (CHLPI). Beginning in January, the Task Force will also coordinate messaging and educational efforts at the State House in partnership with Tina Zuk from the American Heart Association.

We are seeking professionals to join this effort who have expertise in:

• Insurance reimbursement and payment models
• Vermont policy and regulatory frameworks
• Food related research and analytics
• VT food procurement policies, regulations and legal frameworks
• On-the-ground experience providing medically tailored meals and/or produce prescriptions (or similar)

If you have expertise in one of these areas and are interested in contributing, please contact Jamie Rainville at jrainville@bistatepca.org

If you would like to stay informed about this work, reach out to Jamie to be added to our contact list.