(April 24, 2026) – Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued memo QSSAM-26-03-Hospital/CAH: Hospital Nutrition Service Obligations in Light of Updated Federal Nutrition Guidelines. According to CMS, the memo's intent was to remind hospitals of their obligations for patient food and nutrition services and to encourage facilities to use the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030, released by HHS and USDA in January 2026, to inform patient nutrition services and related hospital protocols. The updated DGAs place greater emphasis on limiting ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, refined carbohydrates and added sugars, while prioritizing whole and minimally processed foods.
This week, CMS announced a voluntary Healthy Food Pledge, encouraging hospitals to further align their patient nutrition efforts with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2025–2030 and to expand patient education and support beyond the hospital stay. Although it is not a regulatory requirement, the pledge reflects a growing national focus on nutrition as a key part of patient care, recovery and long-term health.
The good news is that this work is part of KHA, and our member hospitals have been engaged in it for over a decade. Through Healthy Kansas Hospitals, KHA member hospitals have led efforts to improve access to healthier food options, support staff wellness and integrate nutrition into broader population health strategies. More than 80 KHA members have signed the Healthy Kansas Hospitals pledge. Check out the Healthy Kansas Hospitals Toolkits, developed to support KHA member facilities in this work.
Plan to join your peers and KHA for an HKH networking roundtable from 2 to 3 p.m. on June 11. The roundtable will build on the HKH foundation and cover the following topics:
- Nutrition Policy in Practice: What Hospitals Are Really Doing
- Overview of recent federal guidance
- Panel discussion on how hospitals are interpreting and responding
- Real-world challenges (staffing, supply, patient expectations and feasibility)
- Review of Healthy Kansas Hospitals Toolkits
- Q&A and Open Discussion
This will be a peer-to-peer conversation; a chance to take a temperature check across Kansas hospitals, share what's working and identify opportunities moving forward. More information and registration details will be available soon.
If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Willey at (785) 233-7436 or mwilley@kha-net.org.
--Karen Braman