HB 6857 — AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FOOD AS MEDICINE WORKING GROUP.

General Assembly SubstituteRaised Bill No.

6857 January Session, 2023 ANLCO ACTNo. IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FOOD AS MEDICINE WORKING GROUP.

5125 Referred to Committee on HUMAN SERVICES Introduced by:

(HS) AN ACT IMPLEMENTING THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FOOD AS MEDICINE WORKING GROUP.

SectionSection1. 1.

(NEW)(NEW)(Effective (Effective from passage)passage)(a)As (a) As used ininthissection this section and sectionsection2ofthisact,(1)"certifieddietitian-nutritionist"meansadietitian- 2nutritionist of this act, (1) "certified dietitian-nutritionist" means a dietitian-nutritionist certified pursuant to section 20-206n of the general statutes, (2) "certain health conditions" means conditions including, but not limited to, prediabetes, gestational diabetes and types 1 and 2 diabetes, heart disease, including hypertension, hypercholesterol, dyslipidemia and congestive heart failure, food allergies, celiac disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, renal disease and obesity, (3) "health care provider" means a physician, physicianphysician's assistant, advanced practice registered nurse, certified dietitian-nutritionist or certified diabetes educator, and (4) "produce prescription" means a prescription for fruits and vegetables without added salt, sugar or fat given to a Medicaid enrollee with certain health conditions by a health care provider.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall apply for a Medicaid waiverLCO underNo. Section 1115 of the Social Security Act for a three-year pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage for produce prescriptions for a Medicaid enrollee with certain health conditions.

The5125 commissioner1 mayof provide4 suchRaised enrolleeBill withNo.6857 voucherswaiver orunder anSection LCO1115 \\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06857-R011 of 4the HB.docxSocial SubstituteSecurity BillAct No.for a three-year pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage for produce prescriptions for a Medicaid enrollee with certain health conditions.

6857The commissioner may provide such enrollee with vouchers or an electronic debit card restricted to purchases of prescribed produce.

(c) Not later than January 15, 2024, January 15, 2025, and January 15, 2026, the commissioner shall file reports, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, with the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services on (1) the number of Medicaid enrollees who have received produce prescriptions, (2) data regarding the effect produce prescriptions have on their health, including, but not limited to, indicators such as blood sugar levels, blood pressure and serum lipids, (3) the effect of produce prescriptions on ranges of food insecurity, as measured by the United States Department of Agriculture, and (4) the cost to the state to provide Medicaid reimbursement for such prescriptions compared to any savings generated by improved health outcomes for such enrollees.

(Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, (1) "medically tailoredtailoredmeals"meansamealplanconsisting meals"offivetotwenty-onemeals means a meal plan consisting of five to twenty-one meals per week tailored by a certified dietitian-nutritionist, or other qualified nutrition professional as determined by the Commissioner of Social Services, to help treat certain health conditions of Medicaid enrollees, and (2) "medically tailored food" means partially prepared or nonprepared food items, or both, sufficient to prepare not more than fourteen meals per week selected by a certified dietitian-nutritionist, or other qualified nutrition professional as determined by the commissioner, as part of a treatment plan for a Medicaid enrollee with certain health conditions.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall convene a working groupLCO notNo. later than August 1, 2023, to develop recommendations to improve health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees with certain health conditions by treating food as medicine.

The5125 working2 group'sof study4 LCORaised {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-068572Bill ofNo.6857 4group R01-HB.docxnot }later Substitutethan BillAugust No.1, 2023, to develop recommendations to improve health outcomes for Medicaid enrollees with certain health conditions by treating food as medicine.

6857The working group's study shall include, but not be limited to, best practices for integrating medically tailored meals and medically tailored food for Medicaid enrollees with certain health conditions into the state's medical assistance program.

The working group shall meet not less than monthly and shall provide a report with recommendations to the Commissioner ofofSocialServicesnotlaterthanJanuary1,2024.Theworkinggroupshall Socialterminate Serviceson notthe laterdate thanthat it submits such report or January 1, 2024.2024, whichever is later.

TheSec. working group shall terminate on the date that it submits such report or January 1, 2024, whichever is later.

3.

Section 17b-28e of the general statutes is amended by adding subsection (f) as follows (Effective from passage):

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6857 (NEW) (f) Not later than October 1, 2023, the Commissioner of Social Services shall amend the Medicaid state plan to add reimbursement for medical nutrition therapy provided by a dietitian-nutritionist certified pursuant to section 20-206n to a Medicaid enrollee with certain health conditions.

For purposes of this subsection, "certain health conditions" has the same meaning as provided in section 1 of this act and "medical nutrition therapy" means an evidence-based, individualized nutrition plan designed to help treat certain health conditions.

2 from passage New section LCOSec. {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-068573 of 4 R01-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

68573 HSfrom Jointpassage Favorable17b-28e(f) Subst.Statement of Purpose:

C/RTo APPestablish LCO(1) {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2023HB-06857-a 4pilot ofprogram 4to R01-HB.docxprovide }Medicaid funding for produce prescriptions for Medicaid enrollees with certain health conditions, (2) a working group to develop additional recommendations, including for providing medically tailored meals for such persons, and (3) Medicaid reimbursement for certified dietitian- nutritionists who provide medical nutrition therapy.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.

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