Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act
Summary
The "Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act" aims to establish a 6-year pilot program under Medicare Part A. This program will provide medically tailored home-delivered meals to qualified individuals discharged from selected hospitals. The goal is to improve clinical health outcomes and reduce hospital readmission rates.
Expected Effects
The act will lead to selected hospitals providing home-delivered meals and medical nutrition therapy to qualified individuals. This will be funded through the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, with budget neutrality achieved by reducing payments to subsection (d) hospitals. The Secretary will monitor and evaluate the program's effectiveness.
Potential Benefits
- Improved health outcomes for qualified individuals with diet-impacted diseases.
- Reduced hospital readmission rates, potentially lowering healthcare costs.
- Provision of medically tailored meals that meet specific dietary and cultural needs.
- Access to medical nutrition therapy for qualified individuals.
- Data collection and evaluation to assess the program's impact and inform future policy.
Potential Disadvantages
- Reduced payments to subsection (d) hospitals to maintain budget neutrality, potentially impacting their financial stability.
- Limited scope of the program, affecting only selected hospitals and qualified individuals.
- Potential administrative burden for hospitals in screening, providing meals, and submitting data.
- The program's success depends on accurate screening and effective meal delivery.
- The definition of 'qualified individual' may exclude some individuals who could benefit from the program.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's general welfare clause (Preamble). It promotes the health and well-being of citizens through a targeted healthcare intervention. The program operates within the existing Medicare framework, which has been established through legislation under the powers granted to Congress.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).