DELAWARE- State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky has joined a newly established state-level committee aimed at reducing healthcare costs and improving public health by incorporating food as a core component of medical treatment.
Governor Matt Meyer created the "Delaware Food is Medicine Committee" to address the role poor nutrition plays in chronic disease and healthcare spending. By formally integrating nutrition into the system, the goal is to shift the state’s healthcare approach from reactive treatment to proactive prevention.
"This is a concept I have been touting for a while," said Hilovsky, a retired optometrist. "Many diseases and conditions can be improved, or avoided entirely, by making more prudent choices. Diabetes is a prime example of an area where better nutrition can have a profound positive impact."
The initiative reflects growing national attention on the "food is medicine" model. According to Tufts University’s Food is Medicine Institute, 85% of all healthcare spending is linked to managing diet-related chronic illnesses.
Lieutenant Governor Kyle Evans Gay will chair the new committee, which brings together leaders in healthcare, agriculture, research, and community outreach. The committee will build a statewide framework by adapting successful models from other states and leveraging research from national experts.