Partnerships for Better Health Act

carry out outreach and enrollment efforts, such as identifying eligible participants in services provided through such a grant and increasing community engagement and trust building with the community to be served by the lead eligible entity. (e) Conditions.--As a condition on the receipt of a grant under this section, the lead eligible entity shall agree-- (1) to exclusively use evidence-based or evidence informed models in providing services described in subsection (d); (2) to serve populations whose family income does not exceed 200 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2))) for a family of the size involved, or otherwise medically underserved; and (3) to ensure that each member of the local coalition involved-- (A) maintains partnership agreements among the coalition for the duration of the period of the grant; and (B) participates in any Federal evaluations related to grants made under this section. (f) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Funds made available under this section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would otherwise be used for activities authorized under this section. (g) Term.--The term of a grant awarded under this section shall not exceed 3 years. A grant may be renewed for an additional 2-year period, based on performance. (h) Reporting.-- (1) In general.--Beginning not later than 6 months after the date on which a lead eligible entity receives a grant under this section, and every year thereafter, a lead eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary concerned a report on-- (A) the outcomes achieved by the program under this section; and (B) the progress made with respect to the design and implementation of the program. (2) Contents.--The report under subsection (a) shall include-- (A) the demographics of participants in programs funded through the grant; (B) the services delivered by such programs; (C) the lessons learned from such programs and barriers to access to services provided by such programs; and (D) the health, social and access, and utilization outcomes of such programs specified in paragraph (3). (3) Outcomes described.--The outcomes described in this paragraph are the following: (A) With respect to health outcomes, whether participants in programs funded through the grant had experienced a reduction in-- (i) HbA1c levels; (ii) blood pressure; or (iii) weight or body mass index (BMI). (B) With respect to social and access outcomes, whether such participants experienced-- (i) a change in food security status; (ii) continuity of care; (iii) increased engagement and retention in programs funded through the grant; or (iv) a change in health behavior and dietary habits. (C) With respect to utilization outcomes, whether within the area served by the entity receiving the grant-- (i) had fewer emergency department visits related to chronic diseases; or (ii) had fewer hospitalizations related to chronic diseases. (i) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Food is medicine program.--The term ``Food is Medicine program'' means a structured intervention in which a healthcare provider prescribes or refers patients to receive, via home delivery, medically appropriate food, nutrition education, and related support as part of a treatment or prevention plan for diet-related disease. (2) Lead eligible entity.--The term ``lead eligible entity'' means the nonprofit or public entity submitting an application for a grant under this section on behalf of a local coalition, that-- (A) has demonstrated-- (i) experience serving underserved or high- risk populations; and (ii) capacity to manage Federal grant funds; (B) has in effect on the date on which the application is submitted, one or more formal agreements with a coalition partner; and (C) is one of the following: (i) A Federally qualified health center (as defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa))). (ii) A community health center receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b). (iii) A nonprofit hospital or health system. (iv) A nonprofit organization with demonstrated healthcare expertise. (v) A food bank. (vi) A nonprofit organization with demonstrated nutrition expertise. (3) Local coalition.--The term ``local coalition'' includes-- (A) A clinical partner, such as-- (i) a Federally qualified health center or rural health clinic (as such terms are defined in section 1861(aa) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1395x(aa))); (ii) a community health center receiving assistance under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254b); or (iii) a nonprofit hospital. (B) A food and nutrition partner, such as a food bank, food pantry network, or nonprofit food provider with capacity to source and deliver medically tailored or disease appropriate foods. (C) A public health or government partner, such as-- (i) a local or State public health department; or (ii) Tribal health authority, where applicable. (D) A community-based organization, including-- (i) a faith-based organization; (ii) a community action agency; (iii) a social service nonprofit; and (iv) an educational institution. (4) Secretary concerned.--The term ``Secretary concerned'' means-- (A) the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the case of grants awarded to an entity specified in clauses (i) through (iv) of paragraph (2)(C); and (B) the Secretary of Agriculture in the case of grants awarded to an entity specified in clauses (v) and (vi) of paragraph (2)(C). (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031. <all>