DOVER — Delaware is putting more than $1 million in federal funding toward a statewide Food is Medicine system that could connect patients managing chronic conditions with nutritious food as part of their health care.
The Delaware Food is Medicine Committee has selected the University of Delaware, Beebe Healthcare and Deloitte Consulting LLP to help build that system. The three organizations were announced ahead of a July meeting at the Delaware State Fair.
The funding comes through Delaware’s federal Rural Health Transformation Program. The committee was established in May 2025 under the Delaware Council on Farm & Food Policy. Lt. Gov. Kyle Evans Gay chairs the group, which brings together health care, agriculture, research and community organizations.
“The Delaware Food is Medicine Committee has been steadfast in building a FIM system to transform the health and well-being of more Delawareans, while also tackling the barriers in our healthcare system,” Gay said in the July announcement. She said the state intends to coordinate existing efforts and build a network that can last beyond the initial investment.
Under the committee’s definition, Food is Medicine means a health care provider could prescribe nutritious food based on a patient’s medical condition and needs. That could mean prepared meals designed for a specific condition, groceries selected with a dietitian or produce a patient can use at home. The committee wants Delaware-grown foods prioritized where possible.
UD and Beebe will work on staffing, technology and pilot programs in Kent and Sussex counties while Deloitte’s assignment centers on research and the payment systems needed to support a larger program. The committee’s presentation put the investment at $1.63 million.
UD’s Kent County project aims to serve 40 patients in its first year. Its partners include health care providers, the Food Bank of Delaware and Wakefern/ShopRite. The proposed six-month program would pair medically tailored food with care from a dietitian and community health workers, who would help patients manage their conditions and connect with other resources.
In Sussex County, Beebe plans to build shared procedures for screening patients, making referrals and connecting them with food and nutrition support. Its partners include La Red Health Center, TidalHealth and the Sussex County Health Coalition. Beebe’s plan calls for staffing and training first, followed by a patient pilot in fall 2027.
The committee also wants Medicaid and other insurers to eventually reimburse nutrition services as part of patient care. Its July presentation set a fifth-year goal of $500,000 in annual Food is Medicine reimbursement and agreements with at least two insurers, but added that federal funds cannot be used to buy the food.
Dining and Cooking