Fresh produce delivered? Doctors can soon prescribe it
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – This year New York State is expanding its “food as medicine” program, where doctors can prescribe healthy food just like they do medicine in situations where that food can make a difference to someone’s health. Once the logistics are worked out Medicaid will cover fresh food that’s delivered to patients’ homes.
Fresh food delivery is the whole idea behind FreshFix, which offers customers the ability to select the fruits and vegetables they get each week.
“For a lot of folks having that control over what you’re getting means less waste and more usage of the food,” said Lucia Leone.
Leone and her husband Joshua Bowen started FreshFix in 2016. Leone is also a professor of community health at the University at Buffalo and has watched with interest as food is increasingly viewed as medicine.
“Instead of actually being prescribed let’s say a diabetes medication or something as a first resort, the physician might say hey, you know, let’s start with diet, exercise, that type of thing,” said Leone.
New York State already allowed prepared meals to be home delivered by prescription, but not fresh produce.
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“There’s a large segment of people who can do that cooking but need access to the food and would prefer and be more likely to use the food if they could prepare it and cook it themselves,” said Leone.
Part of the challenge is getting doctors familiar with the program and able to reduce any stigma that might come with it.
“It’s not about like we think you’re poor or we think you are unhealthy or whatever it is,” said Leone. “It’s just this is your healthcare.”
That state is still working out the specifics of how this will happen. Leone hopes FreshFix will be able to contribute, given its business model.
“It’s delivery, which eliminates some of our transportation issues and the issues with there being maybe not enough supermarkets,” said Leone. “Especially in low-income neighborhoods where this program will be able to be used the most, I think.”
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If this is something you’d like to discuss with your doctor, tell them you’re referring to New York’s 1115 Medicaid waiver and the state’s “food as medicine” program. That should allow them to find out more and be ready once everything is up and running.
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