Nutrition supports
Under the Medicaid Transformation Project (MTP 2.0), the Health Care Authority (HCA) has been approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide nutrition supports services. These services aim to improve an individual's overall health by increasing food security and access to nutrition.
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Why are nutrition support services important?
The lack of consistent access to a healthy, safe, and affordable diet is known as nutrition insecurity. Nutrition insecurity is a major contributor to poor health outcomes, including a greater risk of diet-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and high-risk pregnancies. Nutrition supports is a health-related social needs (HRSN) service that offers opportunities to improve health outcomes and reduce health disparities.
What do nutrition support services include?
The HRSN nutrition support services included under this program are:
- Nutrition counseling and education: Provides an individual with educational strategies to make their own healthy food choices.
- Medically tailored meals: Provides an individual with a health condition with nutritious meals tailored to improve their health outcomes.
- Pantry stocking: Allows an individual to purchase a variety of foods that promote better nutrition.
- Fruit and vegetables prescriptions: Allows an individual to purchase fruits and vegetables from participating food retailers and farms.
- Short-term grocery provision: Allows an individual to purchase a variety of foods that promote better nutrition (only available to individuals enrolled in long-term services and supports).
Who is eligible for HRSN nutrition supports services?
Individuals must meet multiple criteria to be eligible for nutrition supports services. Individuals must:
- Be enrolled in Apple Health (Medicaid)
- Meet the U.S. Department of Agriculture definition of low or very low food security
Individuals must also qualify and be served by one or more of the following programs:
- Area Agency on Aging (AAAs)
- Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS)
- Foundational Community Supports (FCS)
Individuals may also qualify if they are:
- Transitioning from a hospital stay.
- Recently released from incarceration.
Certain nutrition support programs have additional requirements and are available to individuals with chronic health conditions.
- To receive medically tailored meals, clients must have been discharged from institutional care, a hospital, or congregate settings within the past six months.
- To receive short-term grocery provisions, clients must also be enrolled in long term services and supports (LTSS) and have been discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility within six months, or be at high risk of hospitalization or nursing facility placement.
- To receive meals and pantry stocking, clients must be children under the age of 21 or pregnant individuals.
Additional eligibility information will be available in the HRSN Billing Guide.
Provider service information
Nutrition support services are set to launch in 2026 through HCA's partnership with the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS). Currently, nutrition support services are available for clients served by:
- Area Agency on Aging (AAA) provider networks across the state.
- DSHS Developmental Disabilities Community Services (DDCS) providers.
- Home and Community Services (HCS).
For questions on eligibility or whether you or someone you are working with is a current client, contact your local HCS or DDCS office.