Abbott and NACHC Launch Nationwide Food for Health Initiative to Integrate Nutrition into Primary Care — Abbott Laboratories

Event summary

Abbott and NACHC launched a multi-year 'food is medicine' initiative to integrate nutrition into primary care at 1,500+ Community Health Centers (CHCs) serving 52.3 million people.
The initiative includes a certification program, training, and resources to help CHCs manage chronic diseases through nutrition.
NACHC and Abbott have collaborated since 2023, with a 2025 assessment identifying fragmented funding and training as key barriers.
The initiative comprises three components: a learning lab, a community of practice, and a certification program.

The big picture

The initiative reflects a growing trend in healthcare to address social determinants of health, such as nutrition, as foundational components of primary care. Abbott's partnership with NACHC leverages the reach of CHCs, which serve a significant portion of underserved populations, including 1 in 7 Americans and 1 in 3 in rural America. This strategic move aligns with broader industry efforts to reduce healthcare costs and improve long-term health outcomes through preventive care.

What we're watching

Program Scalability: Whether the initiative can overcome fragmented funding and training barriers to expand nutrition integration across all CHCs.
Health Outcomes: The pace at which the initiative improves health outcomes for chronic disease management through nutrition.
Industry Adoption: How other healthcare providers and insurers may adopt similar 'food is medicine' approaches.