Malliotakis/McGovern Medically Tailored Meals Bill Advances from Ways and Means Committee
(WASHINGTON, DC) — Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY-11) applauded the passage of bipartisan legislation she introduced with Rep. James McGovern (D-MA-02), H.R. 5439 - Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act, from the House Ways and Means Committee.
For seniors living with chronic illnesses, access to nutritious food tailored to their medical needs can play an important role in helping them manage their conditions and remain healthy at home. Similar programs have already shown promise in New York and across the country by providing meals designed by registered dietitians for patients with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and kidney disease.
The legislation creates a 6-year Medicare pilot program for 40 hospitals to deliver medically tailored meals for Medicare beneficiaries who live at home and have a diet-impacted disease like diabetes and heart failure after they leave the hospital. The meals are medically tailored, which means they are designed by nutritionists to accommodate the specific health needs of a patient. The legislation is budget neutral with no additional cost to taxpayers.
“I’m pleased to see our bipartisan Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act pass the Ways and Means Committee to help seniors who have difficulty shopping or cooking on their own receive healthy meals,” said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "For seniors living with serious chronic illnesses, access to nutritious meals tailored to their medical needs can help them better manage their conditions, stay healthier at home and avoid unnecessary hospital visits. This pilot will allow us to measure the results and determine how we can improve outcomes for seniors while potentially lowering healthcare costs for taxpayers.”
"For years, I’ve traveled across Massachusetts and the country learning from experts about how we can help improve nutrition and health outcomes. Incredible providers like Community Servings in Boston, God’s Love We Deliver in New York City, and many others from coast to coast have taught me about the life-saving benefits of Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs),” said Jim McGovern, Ranking Member of the House Rules Committee. “You can’t be healthy if you’re hungry—and that’s why I'm proud to author this legislation with Rep. Malliotakis to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital visits, and save billions of dollars in healthcare spending. It’s a big step forward in our fight for a country where no one goes to bed hungry and everyone has access to the affordable, quality healthcare they deserve."
"Too many seniors leave the hospital only to be readmitted within weeks because they lack access to the right food or nutrients to manage a chronic illness at home," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08). "This bill tests a targeted approach: whether medically tailored meals paired with nutrition counseling can keep Medicare patients healthier and out of the hospital. Representative Malliotakis has consistently championed this idea for years, and her persistence is paying off with this bipartisan pilot program. The Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act will give us the real-world data we need to see if this approach improves care for our most vulnerable seniors and lowers costs by reducing avoidable hospital readmissions."
"God’s Love We Deliver is grateful to Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis for sponsoring H.R. 5439 - Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act - and for her leadership in advancing the bill with unanimous bipartisan support through the House Ways and Means Committee. As a leading provider of Medically Tailored Meals with over 41 years of history serving individuals and families living with life-altering illnesses, God’s Love is excited for the transformative opportunity that this legislation will have in improving the health and well-being of New Yorkers and individuals nationwide. Every day, we deliver 15,000 meals to New Yorkers affected by illness, and every day we see the impact that Food Is Medicine services like Medically Tailored Meals have on the people and families we serve, allowing them to live healthier, more independent lives and keeping them safe in their homes and out of the hospital. We look forward to the continued progress of this signature piece of legislation and are excited for the opportunity to further advance healthcare through the power of Food Is Medicine," said Terrence Meck, President and CEO of God's Love We Deliver.