NYC DOCS CAN NOW PRESCRIBE FOOD

Doctors typically give patients prescriptions for medications. But, NYC docs can now prescribe fruits and vegetables to obese or overweight patients after Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs and Health Commissioner Thomas Farley launched the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program that aims to give at-risk families greater access to healthy foods. Under the program obese or overweight patients can be prescribed Health Bucks redeemable for produce at local farmer’s markets. Health Bucks are a part of the city’s GrowNYC initiative to make farmer’s market produce available to low-income New Yorkers. Patients in the program receive one dollar per day in Health Bucks for them and their family members for at least four months. The vouchers are accepted at over 140 New York City farmer’s markets. The Prescription Program was started by Wholesome Wave in 2011 and has since been expanded to seven states.

Source: National Foundation to End Senior Hunger, 7/23/13, Rx Food