New Report Shows Food is Medicine Interventions Would Save U.S. Lives and Billions of Dollars

Incorporating targeted food and nutrition strategies into healthcare on a national level will improve health and quality of life, reduce work for hospitals, and cut healthcare costs. The True Cost of Food: Food is Medicine Case Study quantifies the potential health and economic benefits of food is medicine efforts — food-based nutrition interventions integrated into the healthcare system.

Research shows national implementation of medically tailored meals in Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance for patients with a diet-related condition and food insecurity could prevent hundreds of thousands of cardiovascular events. Produce prescription programs for patients with diabetes and food insecurity could avert an estimated 292,000 cardiovascular events and add 260,000 quality-adjusted life years.