PENNSYLVANIA — The Department of Human Service (DHS) Secretary, Dr. Val Arkoosh, recently joined forces with Sue Daugherty, CEO of MANNA, and representatives from Pennsylvania’s seven physical health Medicaid managed care organizations. The aim was to highlight the significant role of food and nutrition in healthcare and to discuss plans to expand nutritional support within Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program.
Secretary Arkoosh emphasized the importance of addressing core needs that are essential for good health and a productive life, while also focusing on preventative measures to combat health inequities. “I’m grateful for MANNA and our managed care partners for the progress we’ve made in this space so far as we plan for ways to further invest in this work,” said Secretary Arkoosh.
Access to a healthy diet is closely linked to overall health and well-being. Poor nutrition can trigger and exacerbate chronic health conditions, while irregular access to healthy foods can lead to worsened health outcomes and increased need for acute care. This situation can escalate healthcare spending and exacerbate health inequities among lower-income individuals who are more likely to face food insecurity and barriers to fresh produce and groceries.
Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program, one of the largest payors of healthcare in the Commonwealth, provides coverage to over 3.5 million people of all ages. The DHS, in collaboration with managed care organizations and partners like MANNA, is dedicated to ensuring easier access to essential needs like healthy produce, meats, and other groceries. They also strive to educate Medicaid recipients about how their diet can impact their health and provide direct food assistance to help them manage potential chronic health risks.
MANNA, an organization with over 30 years of experience in treating diet-related diseases, works closely with many managed care organizations. They provide medically tailored meals as part of treatment plans for Medicaid recipients diagnosed with certain conditions.
Daugherty highlighted the strong link between malnutrition and chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. She pointed out that medically tailored meals have been proven to decrease hospital admissions and readmissions, improve patient outcomes, and significantly reduce costs for payors. “In fact, a national study suggests that if medically tailored meals were given to all eligible recipients, there could be a reduction of 1.5 million hospitalizations and net savings of $13.6 billion in one year,” said Daugherty.
The ultimate goal is to ensure that people with severe illnesses who are prescribed a specific diet as part of their treatment can consistently access and afford essential nutrition services. “With Secretary Arkoosh’s support and that of regional Medicaid insurers, we aim to solve that, advancing both public policy and increasing the number of payors that recognize and cover food as medicine,” Daugherty added.
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