LOUISVILLE, KY – (May 5, 2026) — Kentucky hospitals are expanding a new model of patient care that treats food as a critical part of medicine, following passage of Senate Joint Resolution 23 earlier this month. The bipartisan resolution, introduced by Senators Shelley Funke Frommeyer, Donald Douglas, and Lindsey Tichenor and signed by Governor Andy Beshear, formally recognizes Kentucky as the first “Food Is Medicine” state in the nation and builds momentum for programs that integrate nutrition directly into health care.
Led by the Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA) in partnership with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Food Is Medicine connects hospitals with local farmers to provide patients with fresh, nutritious foods as part of their treatment. These programs help prevent and manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart disease while also addressing food insecurity — ensuring patients have consistent access to the healthy foods they need to heal. Already, 40 percent of Kentucky hospitals are participating in Food Is Medicine initiatives, creating a statewide network that supports both patient health and local agriculture.
“This resolution gives added momentum to the important work hospitals across Kentucky are already doing to improve patient health through Food Is Medicine programs,” said Melanie Landrum, interim CEO for KHA. “Our members are committed to innovative, community-based care, and these partnerships with Kentucky farmers are helping hospitals deliver better outcomes by addressing one of the root causes of poor health: access to nutritious food.”
“Food grown by our farmers is foundational to strong, healthy communities,” said Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell. “By connecting hospitals with local farmers, we are improving patient health, supporting our agricultural economy, and showing the nation how Kentucky leads with practical, forward-thinking solutions.”
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH), in eastern Kentucky, is one example of Food is Medicine success, recently gaining national attention for their integration of the program throughout their 14-hospital network. ARH was highlighted as a national best-practice model at the Florida Food Is Health Institutional Procurement Initiative earlier this month with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.
Similar efforts are taking place in hospitals across the state. In one instance, Russell County Hospital, in south-central Kentucky, is providing medically tailored meals featuring locally grown meats and vegetables to patients managing diabetes. The program is already showing results, with participating patients lowering their A1C levels.
With the passage of Senate Joint Resolution 23, Kentucky is reinforcing its commitment to making nutrition a core component of health care. KHA, its member hospitals, and the Department of Agriculture will continue working with lawmakers and state agencies to expand these programs statewide. Together, they are demonstrating that when health care and agriculture work hand in hand, patients get healthier, communities grow stronger, and Kentucky sets a national standard for innovation in care.
About the Kentucky Hospital Association: The Kentucky Hospital Association (KHA), established in 1929, represents 129 hospitals, related health care organizations and integrated health care systems dedicated to sustaining and improving the health of Kentuckians. KHA members combine to employ over 95,000 people, a workforce larger than any single employer in the Commonwealth. Hospitals in Kentucky are among the largest employers in their communities where they provide comprehensive, quality care 24 hours a day, every day of the year. For more information, visit kyha.com.
About Food Is Medicine in Kentucky: Food Is Medicine is a partnership between the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the Kentucky Hospital Association connecting health care and nutrition by integrating food-based interventions into care by helping prevent, manage, and treat diet-related diseases while supporting stronger local food systems. Learn more at www.foodismedicineky.com.
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