The proposed legislation establishes the Food is Medicine NJ Pilot Program within the Department of Human Services (DHS) to address the pressing issues of food insecurity and diet-related chronic diseases in New Jersey. The program aims to integrate nutrition services into the healthcare system by providing medically tailored meals, produce prescriptions, and nutrition education to Medicaid recipients diagnosed with specific chronic illnesses. The bill appropriates $5,000,000 for the program, which will serve up to 3,000 high-risk Medicaid recipients with complex chronic conditions and an additional 7,000 recipients at risk of diet-related illnesses.

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 the submission of an interim report within 18 months of enactment and a final report by the end of the three-year pilot period. The program is designed to expire 30 days after the final report is issued unless extended by the Legislature. This initiative is a strategic response to the growing burden of preventable illnesses and the high healthcare costs associated with food insecurity in the state.