Original Research
Produce Prescriptions Improve Nutrition for Medicaid Patients With Diabetes
Background: To improve access to fresh fruits and vegetables for Medicaid patients with type 2 diabetes or prediabetes, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health partnered with three Federally Qualified Health Centers to implement a produce prescription program. Participants received $40 per month for six months on a debit card that could only be used to buy eligible fresh fruits and vegetables at participating grocery stores. This before-and-after study examined changes in the ability for patients to access foods that promote health. Participants completed questionnaires at the start and end of the program that measured nutrition security and household food security.
What They Found: Among 1,309 participants who completed both surveys, nutrition security increased from 23.2% at baseline to 38.7% at follow-up, and food security increased from 25.2% to 42.9%. Improvements in nutrition security remained statistically significant after adjusting for sociodemographics, baseline food security, and fruit and vegetable consumption. Most participants still reported that healthy foods were too expensive, although more reported they were able to find stores with healthy food options after the program.
Implications: The authors describe the program as an early, short-term success and conclude that produce prescription programs can be integrated into health care settings to help high-risk patients access healthier foods.
Julia I. Caldwell, PhD, MPH, et al
Nutrition and Physical Activity Program, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California
