Detroit Evening Report: State seeking input on nutrition, food security programs for Medicaid recipients

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The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is seeking public input on potential services for Medicaid recipients designed to address food insecurity and increase access to healthy foods.

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The nutrition programs would be offered to Medicaid and Healthy Michigan Plan enrollees as “in lieu of services” (ILOS) options, or services the state considers to be medically appropriate and cost effective when provided as substitutes to other Medicaid-covered services.

The ILOS programs would be offered to residents through their health plan and delivered by a community-based provider such as a food bank, meal provider or a food pharmacy.

“MDHHS is working to address social determinants of health by investing in and engaging with community-based organizations,” MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hertel said about the program in a news release. “The department is excited for the opportunity to collaborate with community partners on this innovative effort to improve the health of Michigan residents enrolled in Medicaid health plans through nutrition services.”

The department is seeking comment on four potential ILOS services: Medically-tailored home delivered meals, healthy home delivered meals, healthy food packs and produce prescription.

MDHHS is specifically seeking input from community-based nutrition service providers, community-based organizations, advocacy groups, federally recognized Michigan Indian tribes, providers of health care, health systems, health plans and other interested parties.

Any feedback received will be used to refine the programs before submitting them for federal approval and implementation. Those interested in providing feedback should share their responses via email to MDHHS-EngageMedicaid@michigan.gov by 5 p.m. April 5.

More information can be found at Michigan.gov/MDHHSILOS.

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Author

  • Hernz Laguerre
    Hernz Laguerre Jr. is a Multimedia Journalist at 101.9 WDET. He is one of the co-host for "Detroit Evening Report," one of the weekend anchors for "Weekend Edition," the producer for our political podcast, "MichMash," and reports on arts, culture and politics.