Medicaid: Celebrating Six Decades of Care

Since its founding in 1965, Medicaid has played a crucial role in the U.S. healthcare system, evolving over time to better meet the diverse needs of the communities it serves. For the more than 71 million Americans who receive Medicaid benefits, it has represented more than just insurance; it has been a promise of dignity, care, and access.

At God’s Love We Deliver, we have been honored to be part of Medicaid’s story in New York. Since 2006, we have proudly provided medically tailored, home-delivered meals through Medicaid. These meals are designed by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists and prepared in our kitchen with both the dietary and nutritional needs of our clients in mind. These meals have been proven to improve health outcomes, reduce hospitalizations, and lower healthcare costs. They are, in every sense, lifesaving.

Over the past two decades, God’s Love has been at the forefront of Medicaid innovation in New York State:

• In 2005, we began participation in the Medicaid Managed Long Term Care (MLTC) Benefit, expanding access to medically tailored meals as part of long-term support services.
• In 2015, we joined the Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program, helping to transform how care is delivered across New York with a focus on quality and coordination.
• In 2017, we became part of the Value Based Payment (VBP) Initiative, helping demonstrate the value of nutrition in achieving better health outcomes.
• In 2019, we participated in the In Lieu of Services (ILS) Opportunity, reinforcing that food is medicine and can be a direct replacement for other, more costly healthcare services.
• And now, we are proud to be part of the New York Health Equity Reform 1115 Waiver, which puts addressing health related social needs — like nutrition insecurity — at the center of Medicaid service provision.

Each of these milestones reflects Medicaid’s power as a platform for innovation. God’s Love has been privileged to partner with managed care plans, healthcare providers, and state agencies in building these pathways for change.

As we look toward the next 60 years of Medicaid, we are filled with hope and renewed commitment. We believe the future of healthcare lies in addressing the whole person, not just through clinical interventions, but by meeting needs beyond the doctor’s office. Food and nutrition are key components of this vision. Medically tailored meals help people remain in their homes, manage their illnesses, and avoid preventable hospitalizations, all while driving cost savings across the healthcare system.

To everyone who has shaped Medicaid over the past six decades, policymakers, healthcare professionals, community organizations, advocates, and, most importantly, Medicaid recipients, we say thank you. We are thankful to all our healthcare partners, which include Managed Care Organizations and health systems. We are proud to be part of this journey, and we are honored to continue serving New Yorkers through this essential program.

Happy 60th Anniversary, Medicaid. Here’s to day 1 of the next 60 years of innovation, equity, and care.