{"id":20282,"date":"2020-09-30T11:13:58","date_gmt":"2020-09-30T05:43:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mobisoftinfotech.com\/resources\/?p=20282"},"modified":"2025-11-26T15:01:47","modified_gmt":"2025-11-26T09:31:47","slug":"how-meal-delivery-services-can-help-address-food-insecurity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mobisoftinfotech.com\/resources\/blog\/how-meal-delivery-services-can-help-address-food-insecurity","title":{"rendered":"How Meal Delivery Services Can Help Address Food Insecurity?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet is essential for the elderly, young children, physically disabled, and chronically ill patients. Around 54 million<\/strong> people will face food insecurity by 2020. Since the onset of the pandemic, millions of Americans lost their jobs, remittances, and other vital sources of income, jeopardizing the livelihoods of many. This resulted in a negative socio-economic impact, gripping on individuals\u2019 health and well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Moderate or severe food insecurity adversely affects the health outcomes of an individual, no matter the age. People with multiple chronic conditions have special dietary needs recommended by their dietitians who design an appropriate meal plan for each patient.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For some seniors with low income or access challenges to fulfill their various medical and non-medical needs, the question is \u201cShould I take a meal today or medications?  Who would look after them during isolation or provide meals post-hospitalization?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specially tailored meals based on the medical conditions of chronic patients  help them to better manage their care and avoid unnecessary healthcare costs. Members with chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, diabetes, and end stage renal disease may be eligible for a Medicare Advantage Plan that may cover up to 10 meals, specially tailored for the condition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meal Delivery Offerings by Medicare Advantage Health Plans for Chronically Ill<\/strong> <\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Original Medicare Part A and Part B doesn\u2019t pay for meal delivery services of the patients. The Medicare, Medicaid and commercial plans have announced to offer meal delivery services to meet the nutritional needs of patients. As per the new CMS rules 2020, home-delivered meals and other services are now part of Special Supplemental Benefits for the Chronically Ill (SSBCI). Medicare Advantage plans can successfully expand the special supplemental benefits to meet the unique and evolving needs of the vulnerable population in the USA. They focus on providing meals addressing the specific health conditions of the seniors who struggle with hunger, isolation, or chronic illness. MA plans with expanded supplemental meal delivery services play an important role in addressing the social determinants of health.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With SSBCI, various health plans can design a customized nutrition program and deliver nutritional and condition-specific meal services to eligible members, as recommended by physicians. Furthermore, they can also design a home-delivered meal plan as a supportive service, which helps members (homebound and chronically ill) to remain independent and active. Plus for those who need food assistance as a part of their recovery post-discharge, can also avail meal delivery services or grocery delivery services and avoid readmissions to hospitals, reduce transportation costs, and other social determinants of health.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What else should members know about these MA offered home-meal services ?<\/b><\/h2>\n