Food Farmacy Act of 2025
Food Farmacy Act of 2025 would create a federal grant program under the Public Health Service Act to help establish and operate healthy food pharmacies (often called “food farmacies”). The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, could award grants to eligible entities (nonprofit qualified health care providers, state or local government entities, and tribal organizations) to cover construction, renovation, equipment (including mobile units), staffing, and food distribution. Grants are intended to expand access to nutritious foods and provide nutritional guidance, with the aim of improving health outcomes and reducing food insecurity. Grants are capped at $500,000 per entity per fiscal year, and there are requirements for reporting on program effectiveness and outcomes. The program would be funded at $10 million annually from 2026 to 2030. The bill sets criteria for what qualifies as a healthy food pharmacy (including access to nutritious foods and nutrition guidance from a qualified health care professional) and prioritizes services to low-income, rural, or food-insecure communities. It requires that Medicaid or SNAP beneficiaries receive free food and guidance, supports integration with the Department’s “Food is Medicine” initiative, and requires applicants to submit sustainability plans to continue activities after grant funds end. The Secretary would have limited authority to waive certain program requirements and would produce regular reports to Congress on program results.
Key Points
- 1Authority and purpose: Grants authorized for the establishment and operation of healthy food pharmacies, with federal oversight and interagency coordination (Secretary of HHS in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture).
- 2Use of funds: Grants may cover construction/renovation, equipment (including mobile pharmacies), staffing, and food distribution activities.
- 3Eligibility and services: Eligible entities include non-profit health care providers, state/local governments, and tribal organizations; eligible pharmacies must offer nutritious foods and nutritional guidance, prioritize low-income/rural/food insecure populations, and provide free food/guidance to Medicaid or SNAP beneficiaries; must align with the Food is Medicine initiative.
- 4Application and sustainability: Applicants must submit a plan for continuing grant activities after funding ends and for retaining staff funded by the grants.
- 5Partnerships: Allows collaboration with other organizations to reduce food insecurity and improve health outcomes.
- 6Financial limits: Grants may not exceed $500,000 per eligible entity per fiscal year.
- 7Oversight and waivers: Secretary may waive certain requirements as needed to carry out the program; reporting requirements include annual program impact reports and a Congress-to-Congress summary (biennial).
- 8Reporting: Annual reporting to the Secretary on program effectiveness; biennial reports to Congress summarizing the Secretary’s reports.
- 9Definitions: Provides precise definitions for “healthy food pharmacy,” “qualified health care professional,” and “qualified health care provider.”
- 10Funding: Authorization of appropriations of $10,000,000 annually for 2026–2030 to carry out the section.