FIMC Member Agencies from across the country joined staff in Washington, D.C. in February 2024 to advocate for our policy priorities, participate in peer working sessions, and learn from key leaders in the field.
FIMC welcomed esteemed guests to speak with coalition members, including:
- Gina Plata-Nino, Domestic Policy Council (DPC)
- Sheila Fleischhacker, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
- Rachel Fisher, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), HHS
- Dr. Andrew Bremer and Dr. Nicholas Jury, Office of Nutrition Research, NIH
- Dr. Anand Parekh, Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC)
- Sarah Downer, Center for Medicaid and Medicare Innovation (CMMI)
FIMC Hill Day: FIMC agency staff also heard from Congressional champions, Representative James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Representative Chellie Pingree (D-ME), before a day of advocacy on the Hill.
What they said: The representatives acknowledged the contentious Congressional environment while spurring on advocates to continue coordinated efforts to increase equitable access to the lifesaving medically tailored meal (MTM) and grocery (MTG) interventions. It was incredible to hear about the progress of the FIM movement from their viewpoint and how much we still have left to do. We are so grateful for their leadership and unwavering advocacy for food is medicine.
FIMC agencies then met with their own members of Congress, highlighting the important Federal policy priority areas for FIMC in the 118th Congress. Thank you to our attendees for their advocacy work.
Go deeper: Following our mid-year convening, Representative McGovern released this Civil Eats op-ed, Can Healthy Meal Delivery Reverse Chronic Illness in Seniors?
Yes! Research shows better diets can prevent and even reverse chronic illness, saving billions of dollars and helping countless patients. The bipartisan, bicameral Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act could help.