California Senate Bill SCR160

California 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/13/26
• Refer: 4/13/26
• Refer: 4/22/26
• Refer: 4/29/26

Caption

Medically supportive food.

Impact

SCR160 recognizes the significant role that nutrition plays in health outcomes and attacks health disparities, particularly among vulnerable populations such as Californians of color who suffer disproportionately from preventable diet-related health conditions. It highlights the need for medically supportive food interventions, such as medically tailored meals and nutrition education, which have already shown to reduce healthcare costs in various studies. The bill states that nearly 200,000 patients have benefited from these services, making them one of the most utilized community support services under Medi-Cal.

Summary

Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 160 (SCR160), introduced by Senator Weber Pierson on April 13, 2026, aims to sustain and expand medically supportive food and nutrition services for Medi-Cal patients. This resolution calls upon Medi-Cal managed care plans to offer these services under federal In Lieu of Services (ILOS) authority until they can be incorporated as permanent Medi-Cal benefits. The bill emphasizes that adequate food and nutrition are crucial in preventing and managing diet-related health conditions, thus potentially reducing healthcare spending and improving overall health outcomes in California.

Contention

Despite the proven benefits of medically supportive food and nutrition interventions, current implementation under the CalAIM framework remains optional, potentially leaving many Medi-Cal beneficiaries without access to these essential services. Critics may argue that reliance on voluntary participation from managed care plans could jeopardize the consistency and reliability of service delivery, and they might advocate for a more mandatory approach to ensure all eligible patients receive necessary care. The resolution seeks to convert these optional services into fully covered, permanent benefits to secure long-term access for Medi-Cal patients.