Nourishing Food at Scale: Aligning Eligibility Criteria Across Programs

Every day, decisions about which foods can be purchased with government and health-plan benefits are shaping the diets and health trajectories of tens of millions of Americans. As states expand SNAP restriction waivers and Medicare Advantage plans incorporate grocery allowances into their supplemental benefits, those decisions are made inconsistently and without shared standards for which foods count as nourishing: The same product may be eligible in one context and restricted in another. As the burden of chronic disease continues to rise and food’s role in health care comes into sharper focus, the absence of agreed-upon eligibility criteria is becoming one of the most consequential gaps in health policy and food policy. Drawing on a new Milken Institute report, this panel brings together leaders to explore what’s required for implementation and what it will take to move from framework to practice.