BALTIMORE—Some MedStar Health patients may be discharged from the hospital with a prescription for healthy food – with a free home delivery of fresh produce for eight weeks.

Under a pilot program launched in October called Food is Medicine – Harvest RX, patients can be signed up by a community health advocate for a bi-weekly box of produce provided by Hungry Harvest. A typical box will contain fresh vegetables, fruits and grains, estimated to build four to eight meals. Patients can also be signed up for longer-term healthy food programs such as Meals on Wheels and the government Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.  Another partner, the American Heart Association, will train MedStar Health community health advocates on nutritional guidelines and eating healthy on a budget so that they may offer advice to patients.  Read more.