Establishes a food as medicine pilot program and task force to be administered by the executive office of health and human services.

Rhode Island "Food as Medicine" Pilot Program Bill

This bill would create a pilot program in Rhode Island that explores using healthy food as a tool to help treat or manage certain health conditions. The program would be run by the state's Executive Office of Health and Human Services. The idea behind "food as medicine" is that providing people with nutritious meals or groceries — particularly those with diet-related illnesses like diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure — can improve their health outcomes and potentially reduce the need for more expensive medical care.

Along with the pilot program, the bill would also establish a task force made up of various stakeholders to help guide and oversee the effort. This task force would likely bring together health officials, medical professionals, nutrition experts, and community representatives to study how the program is working and make recommendations going forward.

This bill would most directly affect Rhode Islanders who have health conditions that could benefit from improved nutrition, particularly those who may have difficulty affording or accessing healthy food. It could also affect healthcare providers, food assistance programs, and state agencies involved in public health. If the pilot program proves effective, it could eventually lead to broader changes in how the state approaches healthcare and food assistance.

Currently, the bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and is scheduled for a hearing in March 2026. The committee has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet advanced through the legislative process.