The 2026 Food as Medicine 3.0 (FAM3) Cumulative Report represents one of the largest national Food as Medicine evaluations to date, focusing specifically on healthy grocery provision delivered through coordinated food bank and health care partner programs.
Funded by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s national Foundation and evaluated by the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact, the initiative screened more than 1.45 million patients for food insecurity and connected more than 161,000 households across 13 states to Food as Medicine programs.
Taken together, the findings reinforce the role of nutritious food as a foundational part of health—particularly for individuals and families facing hunger, who are more likely to experience chronic illness and higher health care costs. Across the initiative, hospitalizations decreased by 14% and emergency department visit rates fell by 11%, reflecting reduced health care utilization alongside improved stability for participating households. Food security also improved, with a nearly 7 percentage point increase overall, representing a 47% relative increase.
Calloway E, Short E, Zigmont VA. Food as Medicine 3.0: A cumulative report on impacts and implementation. Feeding America National Office. 2026. Available online.