Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)
WASHINGTON—Today, a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers led in the House by Ranking Member of the Rules Committee James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), introduced the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act, legislation that would help people overcome chronic illnesses through the power of nutritious food. A companion bill in the Senate was introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Roger Marshall (R-KS).
**Full Bill Text Here (PDF)**
The nationwide pilot program created by the bill would allow Medicare to help seniors with diet-impacted diseases get food that’s specifically tailored to healthier outcomes. Additional original cosponsors include Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Dwight Evans (D-PA) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA).
“Democrats and Republicans can agree on this simple truth: food is medicine,” said Representative McGovern. “No senior should have to face chronic illness without the basic nutrition they need. Investing in medically tailored meals will reduce hospital readmissions, improve health outcomes, and save taxpayers money. By connecting health care and nutrition, we can improve lives, strengthen communities, and build a fairer, healthier future for all.”
“The large majority of seniors 60 years of age and up are living with one or more chronic health conditions that can limit their ability to shop or cook for themselves,” said Representative Malliotakis. “By establishing a Medicare-covered pilot program to deliver nutritious and medically tailored meals to homes, we can provide our vulnerable seniors with peace of mind, improve their overall health and lower their healthcare costs by reducing their hospital readmission rates.”
“Nutritious food is foundational to good health, and medically tailored meals have consistently proven to reduce hospitalizations, improve outcomes, and lower health care costs. With more than half of older Americans living with one or more chronic conditions, Medicare must meet patients where they are by supporting interventions that work,” said Representative Pingree. “Delivering meals designed for specific medical needs is a commonsense, compassionate approach that strengthens Medicare while giving patients the tools to live healthier, more independent lives. As cofounder of the bipartisan Food is Medicine Working Group, I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation with Reps. McGovern and Malliotakis to demonstrate the transformative impact of food as medicine.”
“Food is medicine, and for many seniors, medically tailored meals are the difference between recovery and relapse,” said Representative Fitzpatrick. “This bipartisan legislation brings together community expertise, federal support, and decades of evidence to do something transformative—improve health outcomes, reduce costly hospital readmissions, and strengthen the safety net for our most vulnerable neighbors. By partnering Medicare with local providers to deliver these meals, we are proving compassion and fiscal responsibility can work hand-in-hand to build a stronger, more resilient health care system for our seniors.”
“I have long said that food is medicine, and this bill would use that principle to help fill a serious gap for many vulnerable seniors,” said Representative Evans.
“As longtime advocates for policy initiatives that address the connection between nutrition and health, FIMC is deeply appreciative of Representatives McGovern, Malliotakis, Pingree, Fitzpatrick and Evans and Senators Booker, Marshall, Cassidy and Smith for their introduction of the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Pilot Act. This program will not only address the gap in access to medically tailored meals for older Americans and people with disabilities, but it will provide the data we need to make our health care system more efficient and patient-centered. We look forward to working with these bipartisan champions, the Administration, and legislators on both sides of the aisle to advance this important bill,” said Alissa Wassung, Executive Director of the Food is Medicine Coalition.
How Would Medically Tailored Meals Save Taxpayer Money?
About 93% of seniors have at least one chronic condition and nearly 80% have two or more chronic conditions. A growing body of research suggests that MTMs are a patient-centered and cost-effective way to provide care to our seniors. A recent study from the Food is Medicine Institute at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, for example, found that expanding the use of MTMs could save approximately $23.7 billion in health care costs each year – as well as improve health outcomes by preventing 2.6 million hospitalizations yearly.
What Does The Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act Do?
The bill creates a 6-year nationwide Medicare pilot to provide Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) to seniors with diet-related diseases like heart disease, diabetes, or COPD. Forty hospitals will participate, with priority for rural and underserved areas. Each must partner with a community MTM organization to deliver two meals a day for at least 12 weeks. MTMs are designed by Registered Dietitians to meet the specific medical needs of each patient. The program will test different payment and delivery models—especially in rural areas—and will be evaluated for its impact on hospital readmissions, costs, and health outcomes.
How Are Medically Tailored Meals different From Meals On Wheels?
Unlike Meals on Wheels, MTMs are prescribed by a healthcare professional, created by registered dietitians, and customized to the patient’s medical needs. Seniors receiving MTMs also get ongoing nutrition counseling, education, and, if needed, medical nutrition therapy throughout the program.