The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health, scheduled for Wednesday, will recommend a pilot program to cover medically tailored meals. It is one a list of new plans proposed to 'end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases and disparities.'
, in part because the most inexpensive, readily available foods contribute to weight gain and poor metabolic health.
Today, a small percentage of Americans with the most serious health problems use up almost half of the country's health care resources. They are admitted to a hospital, discharged to a nursing home, sent home, and then end up back in the hospital or nursing home several times a year. "Two things we learned early on," said David Waters, Community Servings' CEO: People who are ill have no appetite. And"if you bring them mediocre food, they're not going to eat it." So Community Servings makes sure its offerings are well above what he was served in his high school cafeteria.
"Health care says to the patient: 'This is what you need to do,'" and maybe hands the patient a piece of paper explaining the diet they need to follow, Waters said. But even those with a lot of privilege would struggle to meet such requirements. For a high-needs patient that's simply impossible."The system sets them up to fail."
Originally funded through federal HIV spending via the Ryan White Act, philanthropy has helped Community Servings thrive and expand, and now the nonprofit also holds contracts with the state and 18 insurance companies. "If that is an important emphasis that emerges from the conference, that could really open the door for a broader application of food as health and disease in the U.S.," he said, including, he hopes, an expansion of food stamps and free school meals for every child.
More than 3 million older adults don't know that they're eligible for food stamps, she said and missed out on more than $200 a month in benefits in 2018. The national dialogue that's happening now about food as medicine is unprecedented, with momentum and openness at the national level to talking about the role"food plays in improving health outcomes and costs," Schwartz said."I've never seen a moment like now."
He predicts that by 2030, many people will leave their doctor's office with not just a prescription for medication, but one for food, as well. Estimates show these programs could provide a net savings of about $185 billion over 10 years, Mozaffarian said. "It's a no-brainer."On a recent morning in Community Servings' teaching kitchen, a chef was preparing to show a crew of trainees how to make cream puffs.
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