The Food Bank Council of Michigan (FBCM) brought together over 250 healthcare, community organization, government and other key industry leaders for the state’s inaugural Food as Medicine Summit. The two-day event aimed to build cross-sector coalitions and collective investment.
The MHA served as the platinum sponsor of the event, supporting representation of impactful Food is Medicine (FIM) programs, investments and partnerships led by Michigan hospitals. Improving access to nutritious food as a form of medicine is a strategic priority for the association, aligning with its mission to invest in the health and well-being of Michigan communities.
FIM interventions are gaining national attention as an effective approach to prevent and manage chronic diseases and address food insecurity, which contribute to poor health outcomes and rising healthcare costs. The following data highlights the importance of continued investment to scale FIM interventions:
- Approximately one million Americans die each year from diet-related diseases, driving $1.1 trillion in healthcare costs — the same amount the country spends on food.
- 90% of the $4.9 trillion the nation spends on healthcare goes to the management of chronic diseases.
- Michigan has among the highest rates of chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. Only one in 10 Michiganders consume the recommended amount of nutritious food, often impacted by lack of access to affordable options.
Although federal Medicaid spending cuts have impacted flexibility in Medicaid rules allowing states to cover services beyond traditional medications and therapies, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services has implemented the In Lieu of Services provision, which allows Medicaid to pay for food and nutrition services that improve health.
Key takeaways from the summit include:
Design in Partnership with Community
FIM interventions vary in scope and should reflect community needs, assets and partnership. Although implementation guidance for healthcare settings remains limited, organizations can work with community stakeholders to initiate essential FIM interventions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services offers a virtual toolkit with resources on community design and implementation strategies.
Integration is Key
As with other interventions and programs, investing in operational infrastructure is both challenging and a critical component to successfully implement FIM programs in healthcare settings. Common healthcare challenges include lack of electronic medical record integration for screening, referring and tracking FIM outcomes. At the community level, lack of standardized screening tools and closed-loop referral systems affects patient participation, follow-up, alignment with community stakeholders and outcome data tracking. A 2024 narrative review outlines the exploration, preparation, implementation and sustainment framework and checklist to guide improvements in FIM implementation for healthcare organizations.
Members with questions about the summit or opportunities to engage in FIM interventions may contact Ewa Panetta at the MHA.