Summary

Creates a VA "Food is Medicine" pilot program requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to set up, within 180 days, a program that provides medically tailored meals, grocery support, and nutrition education to enrolled veterans who have multiple chronic conditions or specified maternal-health risks. The program must train VA clinicians, partner with community organizations, report results annually to Congress, has funding authorized for FY2025–FY2028, and the authority sunsets three years after enactment.

Key Points

• Requires VA to set up a "Food is Medicine" pilot within 180 days to deliver medically tailored meals, groceries, and nutrition education.
• Targets veterans enrolled in VA health care with multiple chronic conditions or specified maternal-health risks.
• Mandates VA clinician training and partnerships with community organizations to deliver services.
• VA must report program results to Congress each year to support evaluation and decision-making.
• Authorizes funding for fiscal years 2025–2028 and includes a sunset three years after enactment—this is a limited pilot, not permanent policy.
• Focuses on measuring health outcomes, utilization, and costs to inform future expansion or changes.
• Implementation details (participant numbers, providers, geographic scope) will depend on VA rulemaking and available authorized funds.

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