Shapiro Administration Highlights New Plan to Improve Pennsylvanians’ Health, Save on Medicaid Spending Through Nutritious Meals | Department of Human Services | Commonwealth[...]

Governor Josh Shapiro's proposed 2026-27 budget invests in nutritious and medically tailored meals for Medicaid recipients with certain diet-sensitive chronic health conditions.

"Food Is Medicine" programs that include medically tailored meals improve health and reduce hospital stays, improving quality of life and reducing health care costs.

Harrisburg, PA - Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding today shared the Shapiro Administration's proposal designed to show how consistent access to healthy foods can make a tangible impact on a person's health and wellbeing. Programs that use food as medicine in Pennsylvania and around the country have been shown to improve the trajectory of chronic illness and help shift health care spending - a strategy the Shapiro Administration is looking to expand here in Pennsylvania.

The concept of using food as medicine is a key health care strategy in Governor Josh Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget Proposal that will invest $900,000 in state funding for a "Food Is Medicine" pilot program. Through the pilot program - part of a larger Investments in Health initiative in this budget - Medicaid recipients with certain diet-sensitive chronic health conditions will receive medically tailored meals that can improve their health, reduce the need for hospital stays and other costly interventions, and reduce health care spending.

"Our health is so much more than access to care - what we eat, where we live, and our sense of community and support affect how healthy we are, how we manage illness and disease, and our overall quality of life," said Secretary Arkoosh. "Investments in Health is our opportunity to make strategic investments in proven prevention efforts like 'Food Is Medicine' that will help Pennsylvanians be healthier and improve our state's financial health as well by using strategies that lower Medicaid spending. When we take a positive, proactive approach to improve Pennsylvanians' health and quality of life, everyone benefits."

Food as medicine strategies can significantly reduce hospital admissions for people with diet-sensitive conditions and reduce health care spending by an average of 16 percent. Currently, PA DHS works with community-based organizations to provide medically tailored meals under Medicaid on a limited basis. This $900,000 proposed investment of state funds will expand this work, focusing on people with heart disease, diabetes (including gestational diabetes), end stage renal disease, and cancer patients actively receiving chemotherapy. With the investment of $900,000 in state funds, Pennsylvania would be able to leverage additional federal matching funds, bringing total funding to $2.3 million.

"Fresh, high-quality food can be our best preventative medicine," Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. "That makes Pennsylvania farmers our best pharmacy. The Shapiro Administration is committed to investing in a strong, resilient food system as an investment in increased health and food security for the future of all Pennsylvanians."

Investments in Health will provide funding in three key areas:

• Food Is Medicine: $900,000 in state funds to leverage federal investment for a total of $2.3 million to support a pilot program that will bring medically tailored meals to Medicaid recipients with diet-sensitive health conditions;
• Reentry Supports: $900,000 in state funds to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.7 million that will support pre-release Medicaid coverage for incarcerated individuals returning to their communities from State Correctional Institutions; and
• Housing Stability: $1 million in state funding to leverage additional federal funding for a total of $2.5 million to launch a pilot that will help Pennsylvanians experiencing homelessness connect to stable housing and services.

Targeted budget investments in these proven services can improve people's health and quality of life, reduce health care costs and hospital visits, improve public safety, support economic and workforce development, and reduce recidivism. June 2026 data released by North Carolina showed a similar pilot that embeds food and housing supports for a cohort of approximately 31,000 Medicaid recipients saved an average of $164 per member each month.

"The Allegheny Health Network is proud to stand today with the Department of Human Services and the Food as Health Care Coalition to champion the transformative power of food as medicine. As a healthcare provider, we see daily how access to nutritious food, coupled with education and support, directly impacts the health and well-being of our communities," said Dr. Elizabeth Cuevas, MD, Division Chief, AHN Center for Inclusion Health. "Our Healthy Food Centers are a testament to this, demonstrating not only improved clinical outcomes for patients managing chronic conditions but also contributing to a more sustainable and cost-effective healthcare system for all Pennsylvanians."

"What we eat has a profound impact on our health, yet too many Pennsylvanians face barriers to accessing the nutritious foods they need to prevent and manage chronic disease," says Mark Edwards, President & CEO of The Food Trust. "Evidence-based Food Is Medicine programs like produce prescriptions, medically tailored meals and nutrition education are proven to address poor diets, in many cases with notable health and cost-savings outcomes. By investing in these programs, Pennsylvania has an opportunity to improve lives, strengthen communities, and support local farmers and food retailers at the same time."

Building on Three Years of Progress

Under Governor Shapiro's leadership, his Administration has advanced initiatives to reduce hunger and expand access to nutritious food:

• Governor Shapiro's 2025-26 budget included a historic $11 million increase for food security, including $2 million for a new state Food Bucks program to supplement SNAP and $5 million in new funding to Pennsylvania food banks.
• Expanded universal free breakfast for 1.7 million students and free lunch for 22,000 students - serving nearly 93 million breakfasts last school year.
• Continued Summer EBT, known as SUN Bucks, and increased State Food Purchase Program support for children and seniors.
• Filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for unlawfully terminating the $13 million Local Food Purchasing Assistance (LFPA) Program, which supports 189 Pennsylvania farms and 14 food banks.
• Responded swiftly to the federal shutdown in 2025 by signing a disaster declaration, directing $5 million to Feeding Pennsylvania's food bank network, and launching the SNAP Emergency Relief Fund, which raised more than $2 million in private donations.
• Joined 24 other states and Washington, D.C. in successfully suing the Trump Administration for suspending SNAP payments and failing to use contingency funds approved by Congress.
• Continued the Fresh Food Financing Initiative to improve access to local food and support small businesses.

Read more about Governor Shapiro's 2026-27 Budget Proposal.