Association Between Receipt of a Medically Tailored Meal Program and Health Care Use

Contact: Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis
Email: Kathy.Hines@state.ma.us

Question: Is participating in a medically tailored meal delivery program for medically and socially complex adults associated with fewer inpatient admissions?

Findings: In this cohort study of 1020 adults that used a combined instrumental variable analysis and matching approach, participation in a medically tailored meal delivery program was associated with approximately half the number of inpatient admissions.

Meaning: For medically and socially complex adults, participating in a medically tailored meal delivery program may reduce inpatient admissions, although cautious interpretation is warranted because intervention receipt was not randomized.