After passing with overwhelming bipartisan approval in the Missouri House this month, the state Senate is poised to consider legislation that would provide healthy, locally grown food to Medicaid recipients with chronic diet-related illnesses.

Two “Food is Medicine” bills are under consideration. They would allow dietitians and other health care professionals to prescribe meals or groceries tailored to manage a patient’s disease as well as counseling on nutrition and how to develop healthy habits. The prescriptions would come in the form of vouchers that can be redeemed for fresh produce at local farmers markets, grocery stores or mobile markets.