General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6857 is an act that implements the recommendations of the Food as Medicine Working Group. The bill introduces a new section that defines terms such as "certified dietitian-nutritionist," "certain health conditions," "health care provider," and "produce prescription." It mandates the Commissioner of Social Services to apply for a Medicaid waiver for a three-year pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage for produce prescriptions to Medicaid enrollees with certain health conditions. The commissioner is also required to report annually on various aspects of the program, including the number of enrollees receiving produce prescriptions, the health effects of these prescriptions, their impact on food insecurity, and the cost versus savings of the program.

Additionally, the bill defines "medically tailored meals" and "medically tailored food" and instructs the Commissioner of Social Services to convene a working group by August 1, 2023, to develop recommendations for integrating these into the state's medical assistance program for Medicaid enrollees with certain health conditions. The working group will consist of various stakeholders, including commissioners, a certified dietitian-nutritionist, an academic professional, Medicaid enrollees, and appointees from the General Assembly's human services committee. The group is tasked with meeting monthly and providing a report with recommendations by January 1, 2024, after which it will terminate. The act will take effect upon passage and amends the sections accordingly with new insertions.

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