I recently returned from Washington D.C. where I was in attendance with over 800 attendees at FIMCON. This extraordinary two-day conference brought together nutrition/food providers, funders, policy leaders and advocates to discuss and strategize advancing the national Food Is Medicine movement.
I was honored to be included as a panelist in the opening plenary session, representing my roles as Chair of the Food is Medicine Coalition Advisory Board (FIMC) and CEO of Open Hand. It provided me with the key opportunity to help frame the conference, introducing topics that would be discussed in depth not just over the course of FIMCON, but also in a third, final day of meetings with legislators on The Hill immediately following the conference.
A key focus during my panel was on the important development of standards for the Food Is Medicine sector. As you know, Open Hand became an accredited member of FIMC last April, a proud milestone in our history. This is especially relevant when we think about incorporating medically tailored meals and other nutrition offerings into healthcare plans. Providers want to know who to trust amongst the many food access programs that exist, and how to reliably measure the outcomes they are supposed to achieve. FIMC’s Accreditation Standards are rigid, ensuring all who are approved adhere to the stated definition of a medically tailored meal intervention and execute to the highest level. These standards make FIMC Accredited agencies stand out and will be critical as we continue towards integration into healthcare.
Additionally, I was able to share the following during my plenary discussion:
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Registered Dietitian Nutritionists play an important role in the delivery of medically tailored meal intervention, as defined by FIMC.
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Community-based agencies show both advantages and proven excellences when compared to for-profit companies in administering medically tailored meal intervention. Open Hand is, of course, a shining example. We have a proven track record for helping our clients for the last 38 years achieve improved health outcomes and quality of life.
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The continued advances in public policy supporting Food Is Medicine and the importance of supporting Congressman Jim McGovern’s MTM Home Delivered Meal Demonstration Pilot. This Pilot would further evaluate the cost savings if our country included FIMC’s medically tailored meal intervention as a Medicare benefit.
FIMCON showcased perfectly just how far Food Is Medicine has advanced in our healthcare system. According to The Rockefeller Foundation (one of the major sponsors of FIMCON), 80% of Americans believe Food Is Medicine programs should be covered by insurance. As a keynote speaker, Dr. Mehmet Oz, chief administrator of the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services, signaled that CMS is highlighting nutrition as a frontline tool for disease prevention and treatment. The national dialogue is now less about proving that food is medicine: consensus has been achieved on that point. We are now all focused on how we can expand access and integrate food is medicine into our healthcare systems as a true medical intervention.
I return to Atlanta feeling re-energized, recharged and highly encouraged about the direction of the Food Is Medicine movement and how Open Hand has earned our position as a proven, highly respected leader in this movement. We are indeed Georgia’s preferred provider of medically-tailored meals and nutrition counseling….and we are perfectly positioned to align with where healthcare is headed.
I’m proud that Open Hand has been at the forefront of efforts to make a transformational impact on our country’s healthcare system.
Matthew Pieper, CEO
