# Food is Medicine (FIM) Programs NOFO

LDH Food is Medicine (FIM) program funds rural projects integrating nutrition into healthcare — partnerships between healthcare providers and community organizations connecting rural residents to healthy foods via clinician referral, plus nutrition education for chronic disease prevention/management. Year 1 Food FARMacy program funding: $2,700,000. Award size per project: $10,000–$500,000, reimbursement-based with a mandatory 10% in-kind match.

## Key facts

- Status: Closed
- Type: NOFO
- Issued by: Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), Office of Rural Health Transformation and Sustainability (Louisiana)
- Posted: 2026-07-02
- Questions due: 2026-07-09
- Application due: 2026-08-14
- Eligible applicants: Rural hospitals, Rural health clinics, Rural FQHCs, Colleges and universities, Rural pharmacies, Community-based organizations (food banks, faith-based orgs)
- How to apply: Apply via the link provided in the NOFO (LDH RHTP application portal). Application requires Organization Name/Type, Program Contact info, physical address, Tax ID, LA Dept. of Revenue Number, and a Statement of Work per Appendix B.
- Funding source: Rural Health Transformation Program (CMS)
- Official source: https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/Secretary/RHTP/RHTP-Food-as-Medicine_NOFO_2July2026.pdf

## Eligibility

Lead applicant does not need to be a licensed healthcare provider, but the project must include a healthcare component. Organizations must qualify as rural or rural-serving under Louisiana's RHTP definition and methodology, and demonstrate financial, infrastructure, or access-related need to rural food recipients through a documented assessment.

## Requirements

Must establish partnerships between healthcare providers and community-based organizations; include a referral loop to a health care clinician; provide nutrition education focused on disease prevention/chronic disease management; demonstrate a clear sustainability plan beyond the grant period; minimum 10% in-kind contribution; reimbursement-based funding via Cooperative Endeavor Agreement (incur costs, then invoice LDH). Does not fund construction or duplicate existing funding sources.

## Application package and source documents

- [LA - 2026 - Food is Medicine (FIM) Programs Notice of Funding Opportunity (Food is Medicine NOFO (full text))](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/9f352e15-fc40-4cc4-bc6d-ca7731a67e1e/file) (primary) — official: https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/Secretary/RHTP/RHTP-Food-as-Medicine_NOFO_2July2026.pdf
- [LA - 2026 - RHTP Budget Workbook FoodisMedicine (Budget workbook)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/3f8953a8-f8fa-4e99-ab1d-ab2ce3891a27/file) — official: https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/Secretary/RHTP/RHTP_Budget_Workbook_FoodisMedicine.xlsx
- [LA - 2026 - LDH RHTP Annual Report for Budget Period 1 (Louisiana RHTP annual report — Food Farmacy)](https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/api/documents/e1d8c446-084f-489b-b99e-b267c1d351df/file) — official: https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/Secretary/RHTP/AC_Meeting_11.05.2026.pdf

More Louisiana RHTP activity: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/la (markdown: https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/states/la.md)

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Source: Rural Care Journey (RCJ), https://www.ruralcarejourney.com/opportunities/food-is-medicine-fim-programs-nofo--92cfe9f615 — data as of 2026-08-18.
Cite the RCJ page for the summary and the linked official source for authoritative terms, deadlines, and amounts.