ByRepresentatives Reeves, Doglio, Parshley, Reed, Thomas, Gregerson, Berg, Macri, Fosse, Hill, and Donaghy

Prefiled 12/30/25.Read first time 01/12/26.Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

AN ACT Relating to medically tailored meals; adding a new section to chapter 74.39A RCW; adding a new section to chapter 74.09 RCW; and creating a new section.

(a) Washington state recently received authority from the federal centers for medicare and medicaid services to administer a health benefit under the apple health program to provide medically tailored meals to certain medical assistance clients with health-related conditions that require nutrition supports to improve their health outcomes;

(b) The provision of fresh, locally produced meals provides clients with proper nutrition to manage their health conditions and an example of healthier food options that can promote healthier future meal decisions;

(c) The production and delivery of medically tailored meals at the local level can reduce pollution and other impacts on the environment; and

(d) Local delivery drivers of medically tailored meals from a client's community are able to connect directly with clients and monitor their health and emotional status and alert community service providers when services may be necessary.

(2) The legislature, therefore, intends to prioritize the provision of medically tailored meals to clients enrolled in state-supported medical assistance programs by medically tailored meal vendors that are able to provide locally produced whole foods through the use of community-based delivery drivers.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 74.39A RCW to read as follows:

(1)(a) Any benefit administered by the department through contracted entities to provide medically tailored meals to clients under this chapter shall, to the extent possible, prioritize the purchase of medically tailored meals produced by medically tailored meal vendors that are nonprofit organizations or small businesses that are able to provide locally produced, fresh, whole foods or from scratch prepared meals.

(b) Medically tailored meal vendors shall comply with the client's medically tailored meal nutrition care plan. The medically tailored meal vendor shall have a qualified medical professional review and approve the menus provided in response to a nutrition care plan for medically tailored meals.

(i) Align with evidence-based nutritional practice guidelines for treating the specified condition;

(ii) Offer accommodations in dietary needs, allergy restrictions, and cultural preferences;

(iii) Prioritize local, whole foods or from scratch prepared meals unless otherwise required to appropriately meet the needs of a client;

(iv) Provide at least 500 calories, or otherwise meet a client's medically appropriate energy needs; and

(v) Provide one-third of the recommended dietary reference intakes for carbohydrates and protein as established by the food and nutrition board of the national academy of medicine, unless otherwise permitted.

(a) "Medically tailored meal" means a fresh or frozen meal that is designed by a qualified medical professional for the treatment of one or more medical conditions of a client.

(b) "Medically tailored meal vendor" means a vendor that provides medically tailored meals according to specifications from a qualified medical professional.

(c) "Qualified medical professional" means a person who holds a credential issued by a disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 and whose credential includes the authority to establish and tailor nutrition care plans to meet the medical needs of a referred client.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 74.09 RCW to read as follows:

(1)(a) Any benefit administered by the authority through contracted entities to provide medically tailored meals to enrollees under this chapter shall, to the extent possible, prioritize the purchase of medically tailored meals produced by medically tailored meal vendors that are nonprofit organizations or small businesses that are able to provide locally produced, fresh, whole foods or from scratch prepared meals.

(b) Medically tailored meal vendors shall comply with the enrollee's medically tailored meal nutrition care plan. The medically tailored meal vendor shall have a qualified medical professional review and approve the menus provided in response to a nutrition care plan for medically tailored meals.

(i) Align with evidence-based nutritional practice guidelines for treating the specified condition;

(ii) Offer accommodations in dietary needs, allergy restrictions, and cultural preferences;

(iii) Prioritize local, whole foods or from scratch prepared meals unless otherwise required to appropriately meet the needs of an enrollee;

(iv) Provide at least 500 calories, or otherwise meet an enrollee's medically appropriate energy needs; and

(a) "Medically tailored meal" means a fresh or frozen meal that is designed by a qualified medical professional for the treatment of one or more medical conditions of an enrollee.

(b) "Medically tailored meal vendor" means a vendor that provides medically tailored meals according to specifications from a qualified medical professional.