Policy

CalFIMC Policy Initiatives

CalFIMC’s policy goal is to ensure that MTMs and other Food is Medicine programs become integrated into health care systems as a covered benefit for all Californians.

What we do

Collaborated with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to implement the State MTM Pilot Program (2018-2021). A Full report will be presented to the California Legislature in June of 2023. MTM Programs Page.

Promote policies for funding and support of MTM programs at the state, county, and local levels, through Medi-Cal, Medicare Advantage, and other health insurance plans.
For example, we:

• Successfully advocated for MTMs and other medically supportive nutrition services as a part of “In Lieu of Services” (ILOS) Community Supports, within California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), overseen by DHCS.

• Advocated for MTM and other Food As Medicine services in the Master Plan on Aging, overseen by the CA Department of Aging.

• Collaborate with organizations throughout the state working on state and county legislation to support nutrition security.

Partner with the National Food Is Medicine Coalition’s policy program, to support coverage of MTM nationwide in Medicaid and Medicare. For instance, we:

• Advocate for the passage of the landmark Federal Bill, the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meal Demonstration Pilot Act of 2021, introduced by Representative Jim McGovern.
See more HERE>>.

• Support other legislation and policy efforts at the federal level, including advocacy for the 2023 Farm Bill, specifically to protect and fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), SNAP-Ed, and to expand the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)

• Federal funding for a Food is Medicine Centers of Excellence within the National Institute of Health’s Office of Nutrition Research.
  See more HERE>>.