Summary
Massachusetts has long understood the connection between hunger and health. Now we are proving that increased food security can improve health outcomes.
MassHealth’s Flexible Services (2020-2024) was a revolutionary program that allowed Medicaid dollars to be used on “non-medical” expenses to address two social determinants of health – food insecurity and housing instability. Project Bread was one of the first food and nutrition providers under Flexible Services. Over the five-year program, we supported 15,986 unique individuals from seven Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) representing more than 50 community health centers, hospitals, and independent physicians’ offices across Massachusetts.
