Key Points
- Section 1115 of the Social Security Act gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to approve experimental, pilot, or demonstration projects that promote the objectives of the Medicaid and CHIP programs.
- Under this authority, the Secretary may waive certain provisions of the Medicaid law to give states additional flexibility to design and improve their programs.
FIM Opportunities
Section 1115 demonstrations allow states to test new approaches in Medicaid service delivery, including nutrition-related and other supportive services, which CMS reviews on a case-by-case basis consistent with federal Medicaid requirements.
States may use these demonstrations to expand the range of services available to certain Medicaid beneficiaries, creating opportunities for CBOs to contribute to service delivery in areas that have traditionally been outside the scope of Medicaid coverage.
Demonstrations also include evaluation requirements to assess utilization, quality, and outcomes. Evaluations of 1115 Demonstrations that incorporate Food Is Medicine can inform other programs seeking to implement Food Is Medicine interventions.
