Insights + Perspectives
Meal choice can help improve member satisfaction, meal consumption and engagement in medically tailored meal programs. Giving members convenient, nutritious options that fit their health needs and preferences may also help reduce food waste and support better outcomes and lower total cost of care.
Why does having a meal choice matter?
- When individuals get to choose the meals they eat, chances are they’re more likely to finish those meals. Better nutritional compliance, especially for people with chronic conditions, supports better overall health.
- Choice can help minimize food waste as members may be less likely to throw away meals they selected and want to eat.
- Reducing uneaten meals can help health plans use their meal benefit more efficiently. For example, if a shipment of 10 meals was sent to a member and two of the meals were thrown away, the cost of meals eaten per package increased.
- Offering meal choices supports dignity and independence, especially for older adults.
Nutritional compliance using medically tailored meals improves outcomes
While offering appealing meal choices support member engagement and meal consumption, outcomes are critical too, especially for health plans evaluating benefit options. Mom’s Meals® case studies show how medically tailored meals programs focused on nutrition-sensitive chronic conditions, combined with nutrition education and other member supports, can contribute to better clinical, utilization and cost outcomes.
Improved utilization
In June 2021, 93 dually eligible members from a Medicaid Plan in California with congestive heart failure, with a minimum of four emergency department visits in the last 12 months and a high-risk profile, took part in a six-month pilot program of receiving home-delivered, lower-sodium medically tailored meals from Mom's Meals.
Participants also received other supports, including calls with registered dietitians, community health workers and nurse case managers, as well as produce and pantry boxes to help them transition to healthy lifestyle habits.
Pilot results included:
- 42% reduction in inpatient acute admissions
- 39% reduction in inpatient length of stay
- 39% reduction in unavoidable hospitalization
- 40% reduction in emergency department conversions to inpatient
Significant decreases in self-reported swelling of hands, legs, and feet occurred between baseline and mid-program and between baseline to the end-of-program (p. <.0001). Although there were no significant changes between mid-program and end-of program, the self-reported reductions in swelling that occurred early in the program were sustained.
Decreased A1C levels
Health Plan Nevada, a UnitedHealthcare Company, sent eight weeks of Mom’s Meals to help members with diabetes management, food and nutrition insecurity and upstream drivers of health, also known as social determinants of health.
Members completed four weeks of calls with a registered nurse. Calls with members continued for eight weeks with discussions focused on diabetes management, nutrition, portion control and carbohydrate management. Members then received two diabetes-friendly, home-delivered medically tailored meals per day for eight weeks. Members were also offered a 12-week telephonic weight management program taught by the health plan registered dietitian.
Pilot results included:
- 17.5% decrease in A1C levels (Starting A1C: 10.86, ending A1C: 8.96)
- 32% overall lower cost of care
- 82% lower acute inpatient stay costs
- 27% increase in pharmacy spend per month demonstrating improved medication adherence
Medically tailored nutrition helped members better manage blood sugar while addressing food and nutrition insecurity. The addition of medically tailored meals increased engagement in the diabetes disease management program, expanded care touch points and contributed to improved clinical and cost outcomes.
The choice is theirs with Mom's Meals
Recognizing that one size does not fit all when it comes to nutritional needs and mealtime preferences, Mom’s Meals offers the power of choice.
With more than 60 ready-to-heat-and-eat meals and a wide range of options, members can have a variety of tasty choices to make. For those with chronic health conditions or who have recently been discharged from the hospital and require medically tailored nutrition, we have nine condition-specific and overall wellness menus:
- Diabetes friendly
- General wellness
- Gluten free
- Heart friendly
- Lower sodium
- Protein+
- Puréed
- Renal friendly
- Vegetarian
Made from high-quality ingredients and produced in USDA- and FDA-inspected facilities, all our meals are created by registered dietitians and professional chefs to not only taste great, but to provide quality nutrition as well. Meals are free from artificial food dyes, artificial sweeteners, and primarily use natural flavors. In addition, we no longer produce meals with the artificial preservatives of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate.
lEARN MORE ABOUT OUR MEDICALLY TAILORED MEALS
Mom's Meals food as medicine solutions
Mom’s Meals provides the most comprehensive food as medicine solutions nationwide. Our solutions include home- and site-delivered medically tailored meals, produce and pantry boxes, nutrition counseling and education as part of a person-centered approach to better health. We are setting the standard in the food as medicine space with real-world results.
We provide nutrition solutions designed for all ages to bring comfort and inspire confidence in people seeking to live healthier, manage chronic conditions, recover from illness or continue to live independently.
Healthcare Organizations
Help improve outcomes and total cost of care. Rely on Mom’s Meals expertise to help you build an effective and cost-efficient nutrition strategy using food as medicine.
Case Managers
Put choice in the hands of your clients. They can enjoy delicious nutrition that also helps them maintain their independence at home.
