New research from the Food Is Medicine Coalition (FIMC) highlights what Food & Friends sees every day: providing people with nutritious, medically appropriate food can make a meaningful difference in their health—and in the healthcare system.
FIMC’s new report examines real-world Food is Medicine programs in North Carolina, Massachusetts and Maryland. Across more than 54,000 participants, the findings show that sustained access to Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) and other nutrition interventions can reduce emergency department visits, hospitalizations and healthcare costs. The greatest savings were seen among people with the highest healthcare needs.
Food & Friends is specifically represented in the Maryland analysis, which examined 2,943 people receiving MTMs from Food & Friends and Moveable Feast between 2021 and 2023. Among participants, the analysis found a 64% reduction in hospital charges for the 25% percent of spenders and a 45% reduction in hospital visits.
These findings reinforce the power of treating food as part of healthcare and the importance of ensuring people living with serious, chronic or complex illnesses have access to the nutrition they need.
Read the full FIMC report: https://fimcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/FIM-Cost-Savings-In-States_Long_Final.pdf
Learn more about Food & Friends’ Medically Tailored Meals program: What Is Food Is Medicine?