10/24/24 –
This article is part of State of Health, a series about how Michigan communities are rising to address health challenges. It is made possible with funding from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund.
Produce prescription programs, which offer vouchers for free fresh produce, have a long history in Michigan, but sustaining them has often been challenging due to their short-term philanthropic funding. Despite these programs’ proven value to consumers with chronic diseases, and their benefits for local farmers and farmers markets, many of them have very short lifespans. However, a new Medicaid funding structure could help Michigan expand its produce prescription programs and create a more sustainable mechanism to pay for them.
Medicaid now allows an in lieu of service (ILOS) approach, meaning Medicaid-managed care organizations can offer non-traditional health care programs as long as they show health benefits and cost effectiveness. Currently, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking federal approval for four ILOS programs, including produce prescription programs. Because many produce prescription program participants have Medicaid coverage, Medicaid funding for the programs seems like a match made in heaven. Hopes are that this new funding stream will help thousands of income-challenged Michiganders with diet-related health issues access nutritious foods…
