Improving Health Through Integrated Food and Nutrition Services at Federally Qualified Health Centers Act

This bill establishes a new competitive grant program, administered by the Secretary of Health and Human Services through the Health Resources and Services Administration, for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). The primary goal is to enable FQHCs to integrate comprehensive food and nutrition services directly into their clinical care. This initiative seeks to combat widespread food insecurity, which is recognized as a significant driver of poor health outcomes and chronic diseases among vulnerable populations served by FQHCs. Grants will fund crucial activities including implementing food insecurity screening tools, operating on-site food pantries, fostering partnerships with food banks and nutrition assistance programs, employing registered dieticians, and offering culturally tailored nutrition education. The program also mandates that the Secretary provide technical assistance and capacity building to grant recipients, focusing on best practices for integrating these services and supporting data collection for evaluation. Furthermore, the bill requires coordination with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to streamline referrals to federal nutrition programs like SNAP and WIC . It also encourages the exploration of Medicaid waivers and value-based payment models to recognize nutrition services as reimbursable care. FQHCs receiving grants must submit annual reports detailing patient services, referrals, and community partnerships, with $100,000,000 authorized annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031.