On November 21st, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Rep. Donna Bullock of the 195^th District visited MANNA’s headquarters in Philadelphia to tour the facilities and volunteer in the kitchen as the organization prepared for its busy Thanksgiving meal deliveries.

Gov. Shapiro and Rep. Bullock met with MANNA’s CEO Sue Daugherty, R.D.N., L.D.N. and Director of Policy & Strategic Partnerships Ann Hoskins-Brown to discuss how the state can continue to support organizations that provide prescribed medically tailored meals like MANNA.

“MANNA is excited to welcome Gov. Shapiro and Rep. Bullock to MANNA,” said Daugherty. “Throughout our state, there are thousands of individuals who are prescribed specific diets to treat conditions like diabetes, heart disease and malnutrition each day. But many of these patients do not have the guidance or the ability to comply by these prescriptions. Providers know they can prescribe services like physical therapy, but many are not aware that there are also services available like MANNA to deliver medically tailored meals that adhere to prescribed diets. We are grateful for the dedication of Gov. Shapiro and Rep. Bullock to shine a light on MANNA’s services, to advocate for a future where more Pennsylvanians have access to food as medicine through funding and policy support.”

This visit follows a discussion held at MANNA with the state Department of Human Services Secretary Val Arkoosh and representatives from healthcare payors and providers on Nov. 9. The meeting discussed the state’s progress on submitting a Medicaid 1115 waiver to fast track a pilot program that would increase access to programs like MANNA for patients throughout the state who are prescribed a specific diet to treat medical conditions.

For more information about the MANNA Institute, visit mannapa.org/mannainstitute/.