Bills · HR 8390
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 8390Health
National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026
This bill creates a federal grant program for states to provide prescribed healthy meals and groceries to Medicaid patients with chronic health conditions.AI-written
INTRO APR 20· LAST ACTION APR 20
READING
10MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
tl;dr
AI-writtenAuthorizes states to use Medicaid funds to 'prescribe' healthy, locally-sourced food to patients with chronic illnesses, aiming to lower healthcare costs by treating nutrition as a medical necessity.
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenDiet-related diseases are a leading cause of death in the United States and drive up the cost of healthcare for everyone. If this bill becomes law, it would shift the healthcare focus toward prevention, treating food as a legitimate medical tool. By using Medicaid funds for groceries, the government could potentially lower the long-term costs of emergency room visits and hospital stays.
Furthermore, the bill connects public health with environmental health by requiring that the food be sourced from sustainable farms. If it doesn't pass, the 'Food as Medicine' movement will likely remain a series of small, disconnected local pilots rather than a standardized, federally-supported part of the national healthcare safety net.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Establishment of a Medicaid Waiver Grant Program
It provides the financial foundation for states to experiment with using healthcare dollars to buy food for patients.
PROVISION 02
Definition of Medically Supportive Food Interventions
It sets a national standard for what counts as 'food as medicine,' including tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition coaching.
PROVISION 03
Priority for Regenerative and Organic Sourcing
It ties public health funding to environmental standards by favoring farmers who focus on soil health and pesticide reduction.
PROVISION 04
Mandatory Three-Year Health Impact Reporting
It requires states to prove that these programs actually reduce hospital visits and improve patient health before receiving more support.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
D· California
YRS IN OFFICE
13
BILLS LED
35
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSAPR 20
Introduced in House
APR 20
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 8390
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedApr 20, 2026
Last actionApr 20, 2026
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED APR 20, 2026
House BillHR 8390Health
National Food as Medicine Program Act of 2026
This bill creates a federal grant program for states to provide prescribed healthy meals and groceries to Medicaid patients with chronic health conditions.AI-written
INTRODUCED APR 20, 2026· LAST ACTION APR 20, 2026
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
10 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
