FL S0488

Establishes the "Food is Medicine Pilot Program" requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration and Department of Health to provide Medicaid coverage for prescribed healthful foods, including medically precise nutrition groceries, medically tailored meals, and produce prescriptions for recipients with diet-related diseases or chronic conditions by July 1, 2025

Targets high-need, high-cost Medicaid patients with conditions such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, cancer, obesity, renal disease, celiac disease, asthma, or dementia, providing food-based interventions along with nutrition education, cooking classes, behavioral health counseling, and health coaching as part of a 6-month intervention program

Requires the agency to seek federal approval under Section 1115 of the Social Security Act for an initial 5-year demonstration project, including waivers to obtain Title XIX Medicaid matching funds for all general revenue, family contributions, and local contributions

Allocates up to 15 percent of overall pilot program funds to the Florida Health and Nutrition Coalition to establish the Florida Food is Medicine Center of Excellence, an online research and best-practices repository covering research, community outreach, education, health disparities, and service logistics

Mandates annual reporting to the Legislature on program outcomes including reductions in food insecurity, health outcome improvements, cost savings from enrolled patients, and advances in health equity