Meal Delivery Programs Reduce the Use of Costly Health Care in Dually Eligible Medicare And Medicaid Beneficiaries
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
In dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, meal delivery programs may reduce the use of costly health care. Medically tailored meals delivered to nutritionally vulnerable patients may be an important way to improve the utilization of healthcare and its expenses by leading to fewer inpatient admissions and lessen the effect that food insecurity has on costly health services.
Goal / Mission
In this study, it was sought to examine whether home delivery of medically tailored meals or non-tailored food reduces the use of selected health care services and medical spending among Commonwealth Care Alliance members. Because there is knowingly an association between food insecurity and emergency room visits, it was hypothesized that the medically tailored meals would cause a reduction in ER visits and other costly healthcare services and expenditures.
Impact
Researchers estimate monthly net savings of $220 per participant for medically tailored meals and $10 per participant for the non-tailored food program. This study suggests that vulnerable patients, in this case, the dually eligible Medicaid and Medicare, can benefit from meal delivery programs.
Results / Accomplishments
The medically tailored meals group compared to a control group saw 70% reduction in ER visits and 52% reduction in inpatient admissions. The non-tailored food group compared to the control group saw only a 44% reduction in ER visits and 12% reduction in inpatient admissions. Examining the differences between the medically tailored meal group and non-medically tailored meal group, the former program was associated with significantly lower medical spending compared to those not receiving any meal support (average monthly difference of $570 and $156 per participant, respectively)
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA)
Primary Contact
Seth A. Berkowitz, MD, MPH
102 Mason Farm Road
Ambulatory Care Center
Suite 3100
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(984) 974-4462
https://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org
102 Mason Farm Road
Ambulatory Care Center
Suite 3100
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(984) 974-4462
https://www.commonwealthcarealliance.org
Topics
Health / Health Care Access & Quality
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Older Adults
Health / Physical Activity
Health / Older Adults
Organization(s)
Commonwealth Care Alliance (CCA)
Source
Health Affairs Journal – Authors’ analysis of CCA data
Date of publication
1/4/2019
Date of implementation
2013
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Massachusetts
Target Audience
Adults, Older Adults