Headline
Medically tailored meals (MTM) significantly reduced admissions to hospitals and nursing homes for people with complex health and social needs.
Context
MTM are a clinical intervention that can improve the health of people with serious or chronic health conditions. This study analyzed Massachusetts medical claims data to assess how participation in one MTM program impacted health care utilization and costs for referred participants who were identified by health professionals as having a nutrition-sensitive health condition and social barriers to maintaining a healthy diet.
Findings
The MTM intervention provided 10 weekly meals specifically tailored to recipients’ medical needs by registered dietitian nutritionists. Among 1,020 study participants, receipt of MTM was associated with a 49% reduction in inpatient admissions, 72% fewer admissions to skilled nursing facilities, and 16% lower health care costs compared to individuals with similar demographic and clinical characteristics who did not receive MTM. Most program participants were enrolled in Medicaid or Medicare and had complex medical conditions including cancer, diabetes, or HIV.
Takeaways
MTM can lower health care costs for people with nutrition-sensitive health conditions and certain social needs that impact maintaining a healthy diet. Due to the high cost of MTM, these programs should focus on people who are most likely to benefit from the intervention.