This winter, Food & Friends, along with 150 organizations nationwide, signed on to support the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act (H.R. 6780), a proposal that would ensure broader access to nutrition and assist in collecting data needed to create a more equitable and cost-effective health care system.
The bill would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a 4-year demonstration program providing medically tailored meals to vulnerable Medicare enrollees hospitalized with conditions including congestive heart failure, diabetes, COPD, and kidney disease.
The program would run in at least 10 states and 20 hospitals, allowing researchers to examine how medically tailored meal interventions work in a diverse array of situations. The MTM Pilot Act would also empower researchers to better understand how to reduce costs and build resiliency into the health care system through this essential intervention.
“Researchers have long-established the link between what we eat and our overall health, yet our institutions, be it Congress or our health care system, have traditionally prioritized expensive hospital stays and Big Pharma profits, while avoiding investments in evidence-based approaches that can save lives and save taxpayers money,” said Congressman Jim McGovern.
Feedback from own clients continues to reinforce the efficacy of medically tailored meal interventions. In our 2023 client survey, we found that after beginning our service:
- 90% of clients reported improvements in overall health
- 64% of those living with HIV/AIDS reported fewer infections and illnesses
- 81% said they could better follow doctors’ orders
- 73% found they could better manage chronic conditions
We’re grateful to the cosponsors of H.R. 6780 for putting a spotlight on these issues: Representatives James P. McGovern (D-MA), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).