Welcome to Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program!
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
HIPPoCRATES
Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program delivers twice monthly bags of local fruits, vegetables, and proteins to eligible patients across Cape Cod. These foods are specifically chosen to be delicious, easy to use, and to improve your health and well-being. Medically tailored for your diagnosis by a Registered Dietetic Nutritionist, the local food delivery additionally includes recipes, nutrition support and education, and connections to farmers’ market food access programs for use during and/or after completion of the program.
Participation in this evidence-based program not only improves a patient’s physical and mental health, but also supports local farmers and helps to create a stronger and more resilient local food system for us all. This program is one of the first of its kind in the nation, and research shows that if scaled, programs like ours would save millions of lives and billions in healthcare costs.¹
Thank you for your interest!
How Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program Works
Watch Lower Cape TV’s spotlight on Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program to learn more!
WHO QUALIFIES?
The 2025 qualifying criteria depend upon five factors, detailed below in the Eligibility for Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program section. These criteria can change based upon State rules regarding funding, so please check back if you are not currently eligible.
WHERE DO YOU OPERATE?
We operate Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program throughout Barnstable County on Cape Cod through 3 partnering health centers: Outer Cape Health Services, Duffy Health Center, and Community Health Center of Cape Cod. Additionally, we aggregate and deliver local Food is Medicine boxes for partnering organizations based off-Cape. We do not currently deliver off-Cape.
WHEN?
The current program began at the start of January, 2025. Patients are eligible to join until we reach annual enrollment caps set by State budgets.
WHAT SERVICES DO YOU PROVIDE?
Your healthcare organization has chosen one of two tracks for their organization. Based upon their choice, we can provide either medically tailored or nutritionally appropriate food boxes. In addition, we can provide one-on-one or group nutrition education to some patients. Therefore, Sustainable CAPE can provide:
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- Our Medically Tailored Food Boxes which are approved by an RDN for a person’s specific health needs.
- Our Nutritionally Appropriate Food Boxes which are overseen by an RDN, but are not specifically tailored.
- Our Nutrition education on a case by case basis, including but not limited to nutrition consults, recipes, deeper education about Food is Medicine programming and connection to additional community food resources.
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IF I DON’T QUALIFY, CAN I JOIN ANYWAY?
Currently, no. However, we are working towards a “private pay” model, as well as grant funded models. If these models are of interest, please sign up for our newsletter to receive future updates and contact us indicating your interest, so that we may directly notify you as the program develops.
Eligibility for Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program
Thank you so much for all you have given me and my family. We have appreciated everything more than you will ever know! Your program has made us more understanding of health and wellness and has given my daughter so much to look forward to every week.
Food IS MEDICINE Participant
Qualifying Factors for Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program
All of the following must be true:
1. Must be a patient of Outer Cape Health Services, Duffy Health Center, or Community Health Center of Cape Cod
2. Must be a MassHealth member and part of the Community Care Cooperative (C3) ACO plan
3. Enrollees or their authorized representatives or guardians must be able to prepare meals
4. Enrollees must complete the USDA Food Security Survey to determine eligibility and be assessed as experiencing “Very Low Food Security”
5. Must have one or more of the following qualifying health conditions that require improvement, stabilization, or prevention of deterioration:
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- HIV
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Kidney disease
- Lung disease
- Liver disease
- Cancer
- High-risk pregnancy (includ. up to 12 mo postpartum)
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If you are interested in participating, please take the survey below to see if you might be eligible for Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program. Please note that the information you provide will be verified by our program partners prior to your enrollment.
Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program Partners
Sustainable CAPE’s Food is Medicine Program in the News
Food Really is Medicine
Lower Cape News, Teresa Martin | December 16, 2024
According to both Sustainable CAPE and Outer Cape Health Care, the linkage between food and health has long been well established. For the eight diagnoses – which includes illness such as cardio-vascular issues and diabetes – targeted by this program, food truly has . . . Read more
Doctors’ Orders: Eat Your Fruits and Veggies
Edible Cape Cod, Andrea Pyenson | August 30, 2021
When doctors advise patients to eat their fresh fruits and vegetables, it is usually a recommendation, delivered more emphatically at some times than others. This summer, when Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) . . . Read more