Food is Medicine National Network of Excellence Launched by Tufts University and Kaiser Permanente

According to a Feb. 6 press release, the Food is Medicine Institute at the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and Kaiser Permanente announced the launch of the Food is Medicine National Network of Excellence. The network aims to “develop, convene, and share best practices in Food is Medicine to improve well-being, equity, and efficiency in healthcare.”

Other founding members of the network include Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, CVS Health, Devoted Health, Elevance Health, Geisinger, and Highmark Health.

“Emerging research suggests that food-based policies and programs—such as medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition education—can significantly reduce diet-related medical conditions and associated healthcare costs,” the press release said. “Food is Medicine strategies also help provide adults and families with children access to nutritious meals regardless of their location or income level.”

Further, “The network will lead the nation in collaborative efforts to integrate nutritional interventions that both transform and adapt to existing treatment models, harnessing the latest in research and training to enhance patient care and education as well as raise rates of patient buy-in and participation.”

The network will follow three priorities including:

• Developing frameworks to assess the impact of Food is Medicine interventions through health outcomes and costs
• Share insights and identify optimization programs
• Promote effectiveness through industry engagement and communication