The ability to tap Medicaid funds for nutrition services has garnered attention within the hunger-relief community but another legislative mandate is having a more immediate impact on food bank partnerships with healthcare organizations. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has decreed that by 2024, all hospitals and clinics in federal payment programs must screen their patients for social determinants of health, including food insecurity.

This requirement is expected to lead to the identification of many more food insecure households, which will then be referred to local hunger relief agencies. Amanda Bank, a Program Associate at the Center for Health Care Strategies, predicts an influx of referrals from providers to community-based organizations (CBOs). Recognizing the importance of these relationships, the Center for Health Care Strategies issued a report in April outlining ways to strengthen collaborations, emphasizing the need for mutual understanding, trust, and viable operational and financial agreements.

Some food banks have already taken steps to establish connections with local healthcare organizations. Long Island Cares has partnered with the three main healthcare providers on the island. They operate a mobile pantry that delivers food to discharged patients twice a week, provide emergency food bags to emergency rooms, and conduct monthly nutrition workshops at pediatric offices. Jessica Rosati, Vice President for Programs at Long Island Cares, expects to see more alliances like this emerge, stating that it makes sense for the two industries to work closely together to serve their communities.

In Pennsylvania, Chester County Food Bank collaborates with ten community healthcare clinics to supply patients with payment cards that can be redeemed for fruits and vegetables at the food bank’s mobile market. These cards hold an average value of $400 and are valid from June to October. The program currently serves around 320 households. The food bank aims to expand by an additional 150 households and enable card redemption at local farmers markets in the near term. Andrea Youndt, CEO of Chester County Food Bank, considers healthcare providers to be crucial access points for food and emphasizes their role in addressing food insecurity.

The integration of healthcare providers and food banks is seen as a logical and beneficial collaboration to better serve individuals in need. As the mandate to screen patients for social determinants of health takes effect, more partnerships between these sectors are expected to emerge, allowing for improved access to nutritious food and support for vulnerable populations.