The proposed bill establishes the Food is Medicine NJ Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to address the significant public health challenges posed by diet-related diseases and food insecurity in New Jersey. With an appropriation of $5,000,000, the program aims to deliver medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition education to Medicaid recipients diagnosed with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, heart failure, renal disease, cancer, and obesity-related conditions. The program will serve up to 3,000 high-risk Medicaid recipients and an additional 7,000 at-risk individuals, with the goal of improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs associated with diet-related diseases.

To evaluate the program's effectiveness, the DHS will contract with a third-party evaluator to assess reductions in emergency room visits, hospitalizations, medication adherence, and overall cost savings to the Medicaid program. The bill mandates that an interim report be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months of enactment, with a final report due three years after the program's initiation. The program is designed to expire 30 days after the final report is issued unless extended by the Legislature.