Division 14. Food as Medicine Health Program

The Prince George's County Department of Health ("Department") shall establish and administer a Food as Medicine Health Program ("Program") to plan, implement, expand, and evaluate medically supportive food and nutrition interventions to improve public health outcomes.

The Program shall prioritize serving residents experiencing food or nutrition insecurity and those diagnosed with or at risk for diet-related chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, or cardiovascular disease and shall develop and implement an educational component of the Food as Medicine Health Program to serve these residents.

The Department may contract or partner with:

The Department shall encourage use of locally or regionally sourced foods grown using organic, regenerative, or culturally appropriate sustainable practices.

medically tailored meals to meet individual needs aligned with evidence-based dietary guidelines; and

produce prescriptions redeemable at grocery stores, food hubs, farms, farmers markets, or farm stands, prioritizing partnering with authorized farms that accept nutrition benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); and

nutrition and health coaching, culinary education, including hands-on cooking or cook-along classes, or group medical visits; and

food delivery or pick-up services tailored to health needs; and

range of foods that are often included in FAM programs, such as healthy shelf stable goods, fresh and frozen proteins, and minimally processed local produce, in addition to fresh produce.

Established. There shall be established a Food as Medicine Health Program Workgroup ("Workgroup").

Powers and Duties of Workgroup. The Workgroup shall have the power and duty to:

Workgroup Composition; Term; Officers. The Workgroup shall be composed of twenty-one members (21) nominated by the County Executive and confirmed by the County Council. The twenty-one members (21) shall represent each of the following:

Meetings. The Workgroup shall meet in public session monthly and upon call of the Chair. The public meetings may be held in person or virtually.

Reports. A first report containing the Workgroup's recommendations regarding the format and scope of the Program shall be made to the Department, the County Executive and the County Council one year after the first meeting of the Workgroup. The report should also include any recommendations or requests it deems appropriate to further the public purpose of the Program. Twelve (12) months after the transmittal of the first report, the Workgroup shall submit to the Department, the County Executive and the County Council an annual report on its functions, activities, accomplishments, plans and objectives. The annual report should also include any recommendations or requests it deems appropriate to further the public purpose of the Workgroup.

develop and expand eligible interventions; and

provide grants or reimbursements to community-based organizations and healthcare providers; and

build infrastructure for food distribution and delivery; and

support administrative functions, including staffing, reporting, and evaluation.

Within three years of the actual start of the Program, the Department shall issue a public report evaluating:

Data, including qualitative data, shall be disaggregated by geography, race/ethnicity, age, and income, where feasible.

The Department shall coordinate technical assistance for local food producers and distributors, prioritizing partnering with authorized farms that accept nutrition benefits such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), seeking to participate in the Program.

Priority shall be given to small, minority-owned, and socially disadvantaged producers implementing regenerative, organic, or culturally appropriate agricultural methods.

eligible participant criteria and referral pathways; and

nutrition intervention standards and dosage; and

provider and vendor eligibility; and

integration with existing Medicaid Managed Care Organizations and other County health initiatives.

The County shall seek federal, state, and philanthropic funding to support implementation and evaluation of the Program. The County shall encourage commitments to multi-year funding.

The County Executive may include funds for the Program in the annual budget.