HJBR May/Jun 2025

46 MAY / JUN 2025 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE MEDICAID FIM program as part of her benefits. After being discharged from the hos- pital, Tina started receiving a supply of low-sodium, diabetic-friendly meals at home. Tina continued engaging with her care manager, who provided her resources to healthy cooking videos and recipe cards to try out her favorite dishes without the added salt and sugars. Within four months, Tina’s A1c and blood pressure readings im- proved. More importantly, she reported feeling hopeful and cared for, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Stories like Tina’s are common. But by embedding nutrition into standard care pathways, we can move the system toward one that recognizes the full context of a patient’s life and seeks to remove barriers to health at their foundation. This further underscores how FIM programs can re- store autonomy and dignity, especially for patients navigating complex medical and social challenges. A Call to Action As the healthcare system continues its evolution toward value-based care, FIM stands out as a scalable, evidence-based solution that resonates across sectors. De- spite its promise, though, the FIM move- ment faces obstacles such as securing on- going Medicaid reimbursement, tailoring programs to meet the needs of diverse populations, and standardizing outcomes measurement. For these interventions to succeed, they must be integrated into a broader ecosystem of care that includes mental health, social services, housing support, and community engagement. Providers, policymakers, and payers must champion food-based interventions as core components of Medicaid strat- egy. This includes advocating for policy changes that support sustainable reim- bursement, investment in community farmers, community grocers, mobile markets, and farmer’s markets by individuals who are food insecure and under-resourced. 6 • Mississippi’s Delta Thriving program, through the James C. Kennedy Well- ness Center, is another program that targets individuals with diabetes to have access to diabetes education, health coaching, and medical nutri- tion therapy via virtual formats to improve A1c and overall health out- comes. 7 • North Carolina’s Healthy Opportuni- ties Pilots represent one of the most ambitious efforts, testing how food and other social interventions affect health outcomes and healthcare uti- lization. 8 These programs offer valuable insights for other states looking to incorporate such interventions into their Medicaid benefits structure. They also highlight the importance of robust partnerships be- tween Medicaid, community-based orga- nizations, and food providers to ensure culturally relevant, logistically feasible de- livery of services. The Human Side of Nutrition Support While the data are compelling, the real story lies in the lives changed by FIM. Con- sider the case of Tina, a 56-year-old wom- an with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure, recently enrolled in Medicaid after losing her job working as a teaching assistant. With limited income and no car, she often skipped meals or relied on pro- cessed foods from a nearby convenience store. As a result, Tina ended up in the hos- pital for five days with heart failure exac- erbation and high blood sugars. While in- patient, Tina was connected to her health plan’s care manager, who referred her to an partnerships, leveraging technology-driv- en strategies to maximize engagement, implementing FIM credentialing and stan- dards that define and measure account- ability, and embedding nutrition into rou- tine clinical workflows. Food is not a luxury. It is the foundation of good health and one of the most basic needs that must be met. Recognizing this truth within Medicaid is not only morally imperative, but clinically wise and, long term, financially sound. n REFERENCES 1 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. “November 2024 Medicaid & CHIP Enrollment Data Highlights.” Last updated March 28, 2025. https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program- information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment- data/report-highlights 2 Rabbitt, M.P.; Reed-Jones, M.; Hales, L.J.; et al. “Household food security in the United States in 2023.” U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic ResearchService,reportNo.ERR-337(September 2024). https://doi.org/10.32747/2024.8583175.ers 3 Feeding America. “Hunger in America: Louisiana.” Accessed March 2025. https://www. feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/louisiana 4 Sautter, J.M.; Henstenburg, J.A.; Crafford, A.G.; et al. “Health outcomes reported by healthcare providers and clients of a community-based medically tailored meal program.” BMC Nutrition 10, article No. 147 (Nov. 4, 2024). https://doi. org/10.1186/s40795-024-00955-6 5 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. “Food is Medicine Landscape Summary.” February 2025. https://odphp.health . gov/sites/default/files/2025-02/Food%20Is%20 Medicine%20Landscape%20Summary%20 FINAL%20508%20EO%20Compliant%202%20 4%202025_0.pdf 6 Feeding Florida. “Fresh Access Bucks.” Accessed April 2025. https://www.feedingflorida . org/food-access/fresh-access-bucks 7 James C. Kennedy Wellness Center. “Delta Thriving: A Multi-County Wellness Initiative.” Accessed April 2025. https://www.jckwellness. com/delta-thriving 8 North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. “Healthy Opportunities Pilots.” Last modified Feb. 11, 2025. https://www.ncdhhs . gov/about/department-initiatives/healthy- opportunities/healthy-opportunities-pilots