Millions of Medicaid recipients could find relief in the form of food shopping funds as the Biden administration begins approving state requests to use the coverage for groceries.
It's part of a larger movement that identifies "food as medicine" as priority in a person's healthcare plan.
A study by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities found a correlation between food insecurity and poor health. People that lacked access to nutritious food options showed increased risk for chronic problems like diabetes, heart disease, obesity and mental health disorders.
The move is being met with opposition from those who say including food in Medicaid coverage is an unnecessary expansion.
"This is really the first I've seen the federal government push food and air conditioners and other things as allowable. We already have the SNAP program," Gary D. Alexander, head of the Medicaid and Health Safety Net Initiative for Paragon health Institute, told The Wall Street Journal.
Last year, pilot programs in Arkansas, Massachusetts and Oregon were tested that allowed the states to spend millions in federal and state funds on health needs and included variations of healthy-meal preparation and nutrition counseling.
"We're able to cover cooking classes and nutrition classes," James Schroder, interim director of the Oregon Health Authority said. "We can do up to six months of what we call 'food and veggie RX.' And up to six months of medically tailored meals."
People ages 19 through 24 who were at high risk for long-term poverty were able to receive coverage for nutritional services in Arkansas, while Massachusetts provided home-delivered meals for up to six months as well as "food prescriptions."
Two men who were active-duty members of the Marines Corps when they stormed the U.S. Capitol pleaded guilty on Monday to riot-related criminal charges.
The Human Rights Campaign, for the first time in its 40-year history, declared a state of emergency for the LGBTQ+ community as anti-LTBTQ+ sentiment is on the rise. Cheddar News explains.
The Biden administration has stopped taking mobile app appointments to admit asylum-seekers at a Texas border crossing that connects to a notoriously dangerous Mexican city after advocates warned U.S. authorities that migrants were being targeted there for extortion.
Donald Trump arrived in Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get them back.
The Supreme Court said Monday it won't review North Carolina's decision to stop issuing specialty license plates with the Confederate flag.
The Human Rights Campaign has declared a state of emergency for the lgbtq+ community. The unprecedented move comes after the passage of more than 75 anti-gay bills this year alone. Here with more is Cheddar News senior reporter Chloe Aiello.
President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses.
Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy’s longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday. He was 86.
“Any consumer can tell you that online airline bookings are confusing enough," said William McGee, an aviation expert at the American Economic Liberties Project. "The last thing we need is to roll back an existing protection that provides effective transparency.”
Cheddar News checks in to see what to look out for Next Week on the Street as former president Donald Trump makes an appearance in federal court after being indicted. Investors will also keep an eye on the Federal Reserve meeting to see what comes out of that while earnings continue to pour in.
