Implementation of programs that provide medically modified diets (MTMs) to individuals with diet-sensitive diseases can lead to both improved health outcomes and significant cost savings.
A new study by researchers at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutritional Sciences and Policy suggests that MTM reduces hospitalizations nationwide, leading to net cost savings of $13.6 billion annually.
“MTM’s goal is to improve health and well-being first and foremost, and the potential for cost savings is very encouraging, but we are the only one to invest in these and other programs that address nutrition-related needs. It should not be the reason.” Study author Kurt Hager (MS) said: statement“At the same time, the results are very surprising. It’s very rare to be able to cut costs in healthcare.”
Interest among healthcare systems, patients, and policy makers in the concept of food as ‘medicine’ coincides with the rapid increase in the availability of nutritional programs for chronically ill patients. A medically prepared meal is a customized, fully prepared, home-delivered meal for a patient with an advanced illness, but neither Medicaid nor Medicare offer it as an eligible benefit. MTM coverage is limited nationwide.
In the current study, the 1-year relationship between MTM and hospitalizations, medical costs, and net costs in patients with at least one diet-related disorder and at least one limitation in instrumental activities of daily living (IADL). and 10-year association data were analyzed. Covered by Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance.
The survey sample for economic evaluation was drawn from the 2019 Healthcare Expenditure Panel Survey conducted from January 2021 to February 2022. Dietary-sensitive conditions included diabetes, congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, other heart diseases, emphysema, and stroke. , non-melanoma cancer, chronic kidney disease, HIV infection, etc.
Investigators estimated that a total of 6,309,998 US adults, with Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance, were eligible for MTM. Mean age was 68.1 years, and most were female (63.4%), non-Hispanic white (66.7%), and enrolled in Medicare and/or Medicaid (76.5%).
The most common eligibility diagnoses were reported as cardiovascular disease (70.6%), diabetes (44.9%), and cancer (37.2%).
A meta-analysis of five previously completed studies found that the introduction of MTM was associated with a 19.7% reduction in annual healthcare costs (95% confidence interval). [CI]6.9%–32.4%), and the annual hospitalization rate compared with usual care is 47.0% (95% CI, 31.7%–62.3%).
Current findings indicate that if all eligible patients received MTM, the program would cost $24.8 billion (95% uncertainty interval) [UI], $23.1 billion to $26.8 billion). An estimated 1,594,000 hospitalizations (95% UI, 1,297,000 – 1,912,000) and $38.7 billion (95% UI, $24.9 billion to $53.9 billion) in healthcare costs could be avoided within one year.
Across all health payers, the policy was estimated to reduce related net costs by $13.6 billion (95% of UI, $200 million to $28.5 billion).
MTM interventions over 10 years would cost $298.7 billion (95% UI, $279.7 billion to $317.4 billion), resulting in 18,257,000 (95% UI, 14,690,000 – 22,109,000) hospitalization reductions and healthcare cost savings. expected to be potentially related. $484.5 billion (UI 95%, $310.2 billion to $678.4 billion).
In each of the modeled decade, if the target population received MTM for eight months of the year, the net cost savings would be $185.1 billion (95% of UI, $12.9 billion to $377.8 billion).
“For people who have difficulty shopping or self-catering due to chronic illness or physical limitations, these programs are very promising strategies to improve health and well-being,” Hager added. And the associated cost savings reflect that.”
the study, “National Extension Association for Medically Adjusted Meal Coverage with Estimated Hospitalization and Medical Expenses in the United Stateswas published in JAMA network open.
