Philadelphia, PA – Department of Human Service (DHS) Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh at the moment joined Sue Daugherty, RDN, LDN and CEO of MANNA and Pennsylvania’s seven bodily well being Medicaid managed care organizations to debate the significance of meals and diet in well being care in addition to work to broaden dietary help in Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program.

“As we continue to strengthen our Medicaid program, doing more to help Pennsylvanians shore up these core, essential needs that are foundational to good health and a vibrant, productive life will also remain a focus. 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,” mentioned Secretary Arkoosh. “It is not enough to treat the urgent need – we must also always maintain a focus on better prevention to help fight health inequities and support a better life for all people, no matter their circumstance.”

An individual’s capability to entry and afford a wholesome, nutrient wealthy eating regimen in addition to having sufficient to eat every day are intently linked to their general well being and wellbeing. Poor diet can each trigger and exacerbate persistent well being dangers and situations, whereas inconsistent entry to wholesome meals or going with out meals can worsen well being outcomes and result in larger want for acute care and pharmaceutical interventions. The influence on poor diet and well being can enhance well being care spending and additional well being inequities amongst decrease earnings people who find themselves extra prone to expertise meals insecurity and obstacles to recent, wholesome produce and groceries.

Pennsylvania’s Medicaid program supplies well being care protection to greater than 3.5 million folks of all ages and is among the many largest payor of well being care within the Commonwealth. DHS is dedicated to working with our managed care organizations and different companions like MANNA to encourage interventions that assist ease entry to important, core wants like wholesome produce, meats, and different groceries. This work helps folks perceive how their eating regimen can enhance or have an antagonistic influence on their well being and seeks empower Medicaid recipients with dietary training and direct meals help to assist them higher look after themselves and handle or mitigate potential persistent well being dangers.

MANNA, which has been treating diet-related illnesses for greater than 30 years, is a vital associate on this effort, working with many managed care organizations to offer medically tailor-made meals as a part of therapy plans for Medicaid recipients with sure situations or diagnoses.

“Malnutrition is a common comorbidity of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. There is strong evidence that medically tailored meals address malnutrition and decrease hospital admissions and readmissions, improve patient outcomes, and significantly lower 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,” mentioned Daugherty.

She added, “At issue is the fact that many people with severe illnesses who are prescribed a specific diet as part of treatment aren’t able to consistently access nor afford essential nutrition services. However, 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. Together, we can ensure these services become a standard of care for all who need them.”

For extra info on DHS and well being care and diet packages accessible to assist Pennsylvanians, go to www.dhs.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACT: Brandon Cwalina – ra-pwdhspressoffice@pa.gov

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