As our year kicks off I’m feeling energized and excited about the growing momentum behind the Food is Medicine movement. There is a wealth of research that has already been conducted that validates the value proposition of medically tailored meals and nutrition counseling. Looking ahead, I see continuing opportunities to fuel additional research projects as well as increased national focus on healthy food access programs and nutrition education.
Last October we held the first annual Georgia Food is Medicine Summit in conjunction with Emory Health. Key decision makers and healthcare leaders alike came together to share thoughts, ideas, and data about the importance of integrating nutrition services into healthcare. Our Food is Medicine Coalition partner, Project Angel Heart, then held the Colorado Food is Medicine Summit last month. I was invited to present on quality and sustainability in Food is Medicine and left that gathering feeling very optimistic about not just the future of the movement, but of Open Hand as well.
All that energy will culminate on a national scale this summer at the Food is Medicine Convention in Washington DC. Community-based food access programs, major funders, policy leaders, and healthcare providers will all convene to discuss the intersection of health, nutrition, and care. Open Hand’s leadership looks forward to participating and sharing best practices with fellow innovators in the field.
My sights are currently set on an encouraging opportunity announced by the Center for Health Care Strategies, with significant funding from several organizations, including the Rockefeller Foundation. They are prepared to invest $10 million in 10 states to advance the Food is Medicine movement through a request for proposal they’ve distributed. Awardees will be state public health agencies that are granted funding to develop multiyear Food is Medicine strategies to improve state health outcomes. It is my great hope that Georgia will receive an award.
For now, we have many other exciting programs with great impact on Open Hand’s docket for the year. First up: a program with CareSource (a managed care organization) to further look at the impact medically tailored meals have on health outcomes for those facing high risk pregnancy. This will be the second pilot we’ve done with CareSource that focuses on supporting our neighbors with high-risk pregnancies.
One thing is clear: Open Hand’s mission—and the solutions we bring to a healthcare system that struggles to remain sustainable—continues to be critically relevant. I am always mindful of the unique duality of our work and how it both improves the lives of our clients and helps reduces healthcare spending. In this balance is where we carve the path to providing our level of nutrition services to any Georgian who needs it, regardless of ability to pay.
I look forward to reporting on these initiatives and our ongoing progress towards our vision throughout the year.
In good health,
Matthew Pieper
CEO, Open Hand