A new NPR report examines growing evidence that medically tailored meals can improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare use for people with complex medical needs. The story highlights Community Servings, a Boston nonprofit that prepares and delivers meals designed around patients’ specific health conditions, as well as research examining the impact of these programs.
A study of nearly 1,900 Massachusetts residents who received medically tailored meals for at least three months found that participants had 20% fewer emergency department visits and 31% fewer hospitalizations than similar patients who did not receive the meals. Researchers say the findings add to evidence that providing nutritious, condition-specific food can improve health while potentially reducing healthcare costs.