Our VisionA healthcare future where food is foundational. Nutrition policy becomes practice, and practice yields value to patients, clinicians, communities, and health care systems. Food benefits are accessible and scalable, with clear pathways to success.
Building the infrastructure for FAM to thrive
The purpose of NVP is to codify, operationalize, and expand Food as Medicine benefits by building scalable infrastructure, shared referral pathways, and implementation tools that support integration across healthcare systems, payers, and food providers.
Systems mapping of Food Intervention Models and FAM benefit barriers across Michigan
Pilot program implementation across CQIs — oncology, chronic disease, and surgical programs
Development of referral workflows for both patient-initiated and provider-initiated pathways
Centralized ILOS/FAM benefit information hub and digital navigator
Toolkits and resources to support providers, payers, and patients across the state
Development and dissemination of a replicable roadmap for successful FAM implementation
Definition Food as Medicine
Using healthy food as part of healthcare to prevent, manage, or treat disease — including medically tailored meals, grocery boxes, and produce vouchers for conditions like diabetes or cancer.
Definition ILOS
In Lieu of Services is a Medicaid option allowing health plans to provide practical supports — like food — instead of traditional medical care when it makes sense. Helps patients stay stable and avoid hospital visits.
Definition Food Vendor / Provider
An organization supplying healthy food or meals as part of Michigan Medicaid healthcare benefits. Examples: Mom’s Meals (medically-tailored delivered meals) and Trinity Farms (locally grown produce CSA bundles in southeast Michigan).
Medical teams are stretched thin. At the same time, accessing real food resources can feel like a superpower or ray of hope. Clinicians need clear and simple referral protocols, accurate program info, and direct-to-patient support from programs.
The health of our communities depends on the work of local farms, grocery stores, meal delivery providers, and food security organizations. Food organizations are motivated to tailor their services to meet the needs of patients and to work with health and policy partners to drive value.
90% of U.S. health costs relate to chronic diseases. How do we get a handle on it?
Payors want a win-win-win: better patient outcomes, cost effectiveness, and competitive compliance in the food benefits space.
Food as medicine has captured the attention of the nation. Health policies that strengthen healthy food access meet the strategic moment and compliment existing food programs. But what do food benefits look like in practice and how can we measure success?