MOFC’s innovative model for Mid-Ohio Farmacy, which connects food insecure patients to fresh produce at participating pantries with referrals from their doctors, will soon expand to other food banks outside central Ohio.
MOFC recently finalized agreements for the expansion with the Greater Cleveland Foodbank and Southeast Ohio Foodbank. The Ohio Association of Foodbanks will administer the new, statewide version of the program, which will be called Farmacy Ohio. An Ohio managed care organization has come on board as well with significant financial support. More information will be shared soon.
“For years, doctors in MOFC’s service area have been able to direct food-insecure patients to our pantries to get produce, and data show that it helps improve long-term health,” said MOFC Director of Nutrition and Research Amy Headings. “We know our model works, and it’s amazing and encouraging to see it adopted by other food banks.”
Farmacy Ohio will also allow patients to be referred to local food pantries by a new health insurance provider. MOFC will share more about the new partnership as details are confirmed this fall. To learn more about Mid-Ohio Farmacy, visit mofc.org/farmacy.
