According to new research looking at every U.S. state, programs that deliver medically tailored meals (MTMs) to people with diet-sensitive conditions such as diabetes and heart disease along with limitations in the ability to perform daily activities could lead to substantial savings in healthcare costs.
Using computer models to estimate the benefits of such programs minus the expense of implementing them, researchers found significant variation between U.S. states but an overall net cost savings in almost every state.
By conducting a comprehensive analysis that considers the diversity in state healthcare systems and patient demographics, the study highlights the potential financial benefits of MTMs. The preliminary results indicate MTMs could significantly reduce healthcare costs and hospitalizations in almost every state." Shuyue Deng, doctoral student at the Gerald J.
and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and lead author Deng will present the findings at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 in Chicago. A person's diet affects the severity and trajectory of many chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease and HIV, but it can be challenging for patients to obtain and prepare the foods they need to best manage their condition.
MTM programs deliver ready-to-eat meals directly to patients' homes. The meals are selected and.
