Washington, DC (February 27, 2024) – Food is Medicine (FIM) can help prevent and treat chronic diet-related diseases. However, the practice faces barriers to implementation in the current U.S. healthcare system. In an effort to build healthier communities, the Milken Institute and the National Association of Chain Drug Stores have formed a partnership to uplift and support the role of pharmacies in scaling Food is Medicine interventions as frontline healthcare providers. Today, these two organizations participated in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. Holly Freishtat, senior director of Feeding Change at the Milken Institute, made the following statement.
“The Milken Institute’s Feeding Change is honored to be included in the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. In collaboration with the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, Feeding Change is committed to building a movement where pharmacists are recognized as key stakeholders in scaling access to Food Is Medicine interventions to improve patient health across communities.
“Pharmacies are at the front lines in healthcare and can be key players integrating FIM within the broader care journey because patients tend to visit their nearest pharmacy more often than they do traditional primary care providers. Integrating pharmacies into a patient’s FIM care plan can support increased engagement, continuity, and help close the gap in health equity.
“Our commitment will support the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities mission to “Integrate Nutrition and Health,” by elevating key policy issues related to FIM integration into pharmacies, producing a report that outlines the steps needed to activate pharmacists for FIM care, and educating pharmacists and partners on the importance of the pharmacy in FIM care through convenings, events, and media.”
As part of this commitment, Milken Institute Feeding Change in collaboration with NACDS will release a report in Summer 2024 outlining the actions needed to significantly shift the role of pharmacies in FIM care delivery and improve patients’ ability to access these medically advantageous nutritional interventions.
About Feeding Change
Feeding Change is a team of food system experts within MI Health who activate social and financial capital, engage policymakers and industry leaders, and convene key stakeholders to catalyze a more nutritious, sustainable, resilient, and equitable food system. Sitting at the intersection of finance and health, Feeding Change is uniquely positioned within the Milken Institute to drive food systems transformation and achieve better health outcomes. Feeding Change has been a food systems leader, ranging from the power of convening, publishing reports, influencing policy, and elevating the conversation on a global stage through our Milken Institute signature events. Feeding Change also convenes a Food Is Medicine Task Force of multisectoral thought leaders to catalyze the FIM agenda. The Food Is Medicine Task Force involves companies from the insurance, food retail, and nonprofit sectors who are committed to accelerating Food Is Medicine implementation through research, thought leadership, and policy.
About the Milken Institute
The Milken Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank focused on accelerating measurable progress on the path to a meaningful life. With a focus on financial, physical, mental, and environmental health, we bring together the best ideas and innovative resourcing to develop blueprints for tackling some of our most critical global issues through the lens of what’s pressing now and what’s coming next.
