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SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 2355
103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
4711S.03C KRISTINA MARTIN, Secretary
AN ACT
To amend chapter 208, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to a MO HealthNet
waiver for nutrition services.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 208, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto 1
one new section, to be known as section 208.270, to read as 2
follows:3
208.270. 1. This section shall be known and may be 1
cited as the "Food is Medicine Act". 2
2. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 3
(1) "Medically tailored groceries", a selection of 4
groceries, including, but not limited to, fruits, 5
vegetables, grains, beans, lean proteins, or dairy, that is 6
prescribed by a registered dietitian for individuals who are 7
able to prepare food. Such groceries may be specifically 8
selected by a registered dietitian or selected by a 9
participant from a pantry in accordance with dietary 10
recommendations set by a registered dietitian; 11
(2) "Medically tailored meals", meals used to meet the 12
specific dietary needs of individuals living with one or 13
more chronic conditions or diet-related conditions. Such 14
meals are prescribed by a registered dietitian and home- 15
SCS HCS HB 2355 2
delivered for individuals who are not able to prepare food 16
on their own; 17
(3) "Produce prescriptions", the prescription of 18
fruits, vegetables, or other healthy foods with no added 19
fats, sugars, or salts to at-risk patients by a registered 20
dietitian, typically in the form of coupons or vouchers for 21
local farmers' markets, grocery stores, or mobile markets. 22
3. The department of social services shall apply to 23
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the 24
federal Department of Health and Human Services for a 25
Section 1115 demonstration waiver to implement the "Food is 26
Medicine" program for the purpose of providing nutritional 27
support through the MO HealthNet program. The food is 28
medicine program shall be designed to improve health 29
outcomes for MO HealthNet participants with nutrition- 30
related chronic diseases through nutrition services and to 31
reduce the need for medical care for those participants. 32
4. Nutrition services covered under this program may 33
include, but shall not be limited to, the following: 34
(1) Case management; 35
(2) Nutrition counseling; and 36
(3) Food provisions prescribed by a registered 37
dietitian, including: 38
(a) Medically tailored groceries; 39
(b) Medically tailored meals; and 40
(c) Produce prescriptions. 41
5. Whenever feasible, the MO HealthNet division shall 42
prioritize the inclusion of community-based organizations 43
and local growers to support the purchase of locally grown 44
food in nutrition prescriptions. 45
6. The department of social services shall promulgate 46
all necessary rules and regulations for the administration 47
SCS HCS HB 2355 3
of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that 48
term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under 49
the authority delegated in this section shall become 50
effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of 51
the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 52
536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and 53
if any of the powers vested with the general assembly 54
pursuant to chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective 55
date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently 56
held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking 57
authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 58
2026, shall be invalid and void. 59
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