Rush's food is medicine veggie RX project will assess new activities by integrating nutrition incentives and produce vouchers to measure the impacts of food insecurity-related chronic health…

Rush University Medical Center received a $482,999 Project Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (CFDA 10.331), awarded September 30, 2025, through September 29, 2028. The "Food Is Medicine Veggie RX" project will serve up to 400 Rush patients over three years who screen positive for food insecurity and have existing or potential risk for diabetes and/or hypertension. Participants will receive a one-year intervention consisting of six months of home-delivered fresh produce boxes followed by six months of monthly produce vouchers (up to $40 per month) that match Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for use at Forty Acres Fresh Market, the project's SNAP-authorized retail partner.

The program integrates nutrition education and chronic disease self-management referrals alongside the produce provision component. Project outcomes will be measured through surveys administered at baseline, six months, and twelve months, tracking improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption, food security status, diet quality, health knowledge and behaviors, self-efficacy, and healthcare utilization and costs. By demonstrating the effectiveness of hospital-sponsored produce prescription models, this initiative aims to reduce food insecurity-related chronic disease burden while strengthening local food systems through direct procurement from community food retailers.

Rush's food is medicine veggie RX project will assess new activities by integrating nutrition incentives and produce vouchers to measure the impacts of food insecurity-related chronic health conditions on the health system. The program will serve up to 400 participants over the three-year gusnip produce prescription project. The project goals are to strengthen food systems and improve patient level dietary health quality through increased fruit and vegetable consumption; reduce overall individual and household level food insecurity; reduce healthcare use and associated costs; and support local economies through local food procurement. Rush patients with existing or potential of developing diabetes and/or hypertension who screen positive for food insecurity and meet the requirements to participate in a PPR project are referred to the veggie RX program for one year participation. Patients will receive six months home delivered produce prescription boxes, followed by six months of monthly vouchers for up to $40 dollars match to use concurrently with their snap electronicbenefits transfer at forty acres fresh market, the projects snap firm partner. Patients will also receive nutrition education and referrals to chronic disease self-management classes (cdsmp). Telephonic or online surveys occur at baseline, midpoint (month six), and program completion (month 12). Data will measure improvements in fruit and vegetable consumption, food security status, diet quality, knowledge and behaviors, self-efficacy, healthcare utilization and associated costs. The veggie RX program aligns with the gusnip PPR goals. Gusnip PPR grant funds would enable rush to serve more patients and build the evidence for hospital sponsored PPR programs.