Medically tailored meals

AN ACT Relating to medically tailored meals; adding a new section 1
to chapter 74.39A RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW.2
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:3
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 74.39A 4
RCW to read as follows: 5
(1)(a) Any benefit administered by the department through 6
contracted entities to provide medically tailored meals to clients 7
under this chapter shall require that medically tailored meals be, to 8
the extent possible, provided by Washington state-based, nonprofit 9
organizations. 10
(b) Medically tailored meal vendors shall comply with the 11
client's medically tailored meal nutrition care plan. The medically 12
tailored meal vendor shall have a qualified medical professional 13
review and approve the menus provided in response to a nutrition care 14
plan for medically tailored meals. 15
(c) All medically tailored meals provided to clients under this 16
chapter shall: 17
(i) Align with evidence-based nutritional practice guidelines for 18
treating the specified condition; 19
(ii) Offer accommodations in dietary needs, allergy restrictions, 20
and cultural preferences; 21
S-3716.1
SENATE BILL 5966
State of Washington 69th Legislature 2026 Regular Session
By Senators Nobles, Riccelli, Alvarado, Hasegawa, Valdez, and C.
Wilson
Prefiled 01/05/26. Read first time 01/12/26. Referred to Committee
on Human Services.
p. 1 SB 5966
(iii) Prioritize local, whole foods or from scratch prepared 1
meals unless otherwise required to appropriately meet the needs of a 2
client; 3
(iv) Provide at least 500 calories, or otherwise meet a client's 4
medically appropriate energy needs; and 5
(v) Provide one-third of the recommended dietary reference 6
intakes for carbohydrates and protein as established by the food and 7
nutrition board of the national academy of medicine, unless otherwise 8
permitted. 9
(2) For the purposes of this section: 10
(a) "Medically tailored meal" means a fresh or frozen meal that 11
is designed by a qualified medical professional for the treatment of 12
one or more medical conditions of a client. 13
(b) "Medically tailored meal vendor" means a vendor that provides 14
medically tailored meals according to specifications from a qualified 15
medical professional. 16
(c) "Qualified medical professional" means a person who holds a 17
credential issued by a disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 18
and whose credential includes the authority to establish and tailor 19
nutrition care plans to meet the medical needs of a referred client.20
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 21
RCW to read as follows: 22
(1)(a) Any benefit administered by the authority through 23
contracted entities to provide medically tailored meals to enrollees 24
under this chapter shall require that medically tailored meals be, to 25
the extent possible, provided by Washington state-based, nonprofit 26
organizations. 27
(b) Medically tailored meal vendors shall comply with the 28
enrollee's medically tailored meal nutrition care plan. The medically 29
tailored meal vendor shall have a qualified medical professional 30
review and approve the menus provided in response to a nutrition care 31
plan for medically tailored meals. 32
(c) All medically tailored meals provided to enrollees under this 33
chapter shall: 34
(i) Align with evidence-based nutritional practice guidelines for 35
treating the specified condition; 36
(ii) Offer accommodations in dietary needs, allergy restrictions, 37
and cultural preferences; 38
p. 2 SB 5966
(iii) Prioritize local, whole foods or from scratch prepared 1
meals unless otherwise required to appropriately meet the needs of an 2
enrollee; 3
(iv) Provide at least 500 calories, or otherwise meet an 4
enrollee's medically appropriate energy needs; and 5
(v) Provide one-third of the recommended dietary reference 6
intakes for carbohydrates and protein as established by the food and 7
nutrition board of the national academy of medicine, unless otherwise 8
permitted. 9
(2) For the purposes of this section: 10
(a) "Medically tailored meal" means a fresh or frozen meal that 11
is designed by a qualified medical professional for the treatment of 12
one or more medical conditions of an enrollee. 13
(b) "Medically tailored meal vendor" means a vendor that provides 14
medically tailored meals according to specifications from a qualified 15
medical professional. 16
(c) "Qualified medical professional" means a person who holds a 17
credential issued by a disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 18
and whose credential includes the authority to establish and tailor 19
nutrition care plans to meet the medical needs of a referred client.20
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p. 3 SB 5966