Four U.S. senators introduced a bill Thursday that would create a program to provide nutritious meals to seniors in their homes.
U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Roger Marshall, MD, (R-KS), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy, MD, (R-LA), introduced S.2133, which would direct the secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a four-year demonstration program to provide medically tailored meals to vulnerable Medicare enrollees. according to a news release from Stabenow.
While Medicare Advantage plans increasingly are offering supplemental benefits, such as food delivery, no coverage exists for “medically tailored meals” under Medicare Parts A and B, according to the release. To fill this gap, the bill would develop a “Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Program” under Medicare Part A.
“It’s time for Congress to test how medically-tailored meals can be a cost-effective way to help seniors stay out of inpatient care and happily at home with their loved ones,” Marshall said in a statement.
Nutritional needs are an important social determinant of health (SDOH), or nonmedical factor that can affect one’s health. According to some experts, up to 80% of a person’s health is directly affected by SDOH. For many patients, especially those with diet-related illnesses such as type 2 diabetes, nutrition is a critical aspect of health.
“Despite poor nutrition being a predominant cause of chronic illnesses, our healthcare system largely ignores the power of food to prevent and treat diet-related diseases,” Booker said.
In the area of healthy food delivery, the federal government may take a tip from private industry. Caring Carts, launched by grocery technology firm Instacart, allows healthcare providers to order healthy foods for patients.
Last Thursday,Stabenow partnered with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) to introduce the Preserving Access to Home Health Act of 2023, which would stop the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from enacting Medicare home health cuts.
