Sponsor
Joseph Morelle
Representative · D-NY
Representative · D-NY
The bill expands FQHCs' role in addressing food insecurity and nutrition—improving immediate access and clinical care for low-income patients—but requires federal funding, adds administrative and operational burdens on clinics, and may produce uneven access if broader food-system and state-level reimbursement gaps are not addressed.
Low-income patients served by FQHCs will gain on-site food assistance and nutrition services, reducing immediate food insecurity for families and patients with chronic conditions.
Patients with diet-sensitive chronic conditions will receive better nutrition care (including registered dietitians and nutrition staff), improving chronic disease management and clinical outcomes.
Screening and referral through community health centers will streamline enrollment in SNAP/WIC, increasing access to longer-term nutrition benefits for eligible low-income households.
FQHCs expanding clinical services to include food and nutrition interventions could face higher operational costs that strain limited clinic budgets if funding and reimbursements are insufficient.
FQHCs will face added administrative and application/reporting requirements to receive funds and implement programs, increasing staff burden and compliance costs for clinics.
Taxpayers will fund the authorized $100 million per year, which may require trade-offs with other federal priorities or require offsets.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Creates HRSA grants for FQHCs to screen for food insecurity, run food access services, hire nutrition staff, coordinate SNAP/WIC referrals, and collect data.
Official title: To establish a supplemental food and nutrition services grant program, and for other purposes.
Introduced August 27, 2026 by Joseph Morelle · Last progress August 27, 2026
Provides competitive grants to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to screen for food insecurity, run on-site food pantries, partner with local food providers, hire nutrition professionals, and offer culturally tailored nutrition education. Requires HHS (through HRSA) to provide technical assistance, coordinate with USDA and CMS to streamline nutrition program enrollment and explore Medicaid payment options, and collect grantee data. Authorizes $100 million per year for FY2027–FY2031 to fund the program and requires annual grantee reporting on patients served, referrals and enrollments in SNAP/WIC/other programs, and community partnerships.