MANNA reposted this
Yesterday I attended the Food is Medicine Policy Updated presented by The Healthcare Innovation Company (thINc), FoodMed Certified & Validation Institute in Washington, DC. We heard updates from both the public and private sector and what they have been up to in the two years since the The White House's Conference on #HungerNutritionandHealth. Huge progress has been made in addressing #foodinsecurity in the US and implementing #FoodisMedicine interventions, but there is still much more to be done. Much of the work thus far has been focused on prevention and symptom-management interventions for large portions of the population. This is necessary to set us up for a healthier future with #foodsecurity for all. However, I would like to see more of a focus on #treatment for people suffering from chronic conditions TODAY. Interventions such as #MedicallyTailoredMeals for those living with #DietImpactedDiseases and #AcuteNutritionalRisk can not only improve quality of life, but also help to reduce healthcare utilization and spending. These programs are intended for a small subset of the population, with or without food insecurity, that account for the greatest amount of healthcare spending. The question still remains - why do we continue to cover the high cost of drugs for treatment, but will not cover the cost of food as treatment? MANNA