2025 research published in Health Affairs projects that, in the first year alone, a national implementation of medically tailored meals could:

• save $32.1 billion
• avert 3.5 million hospitalizations

even after covering the cost of meals.

Per the Tufts study of 2022, if every eligible patient were able to access MTMs in just the first year, our country would realize:

• $14B in net cost savings for our health systems
• 1.6 million hospital visits avoided

Peer-reviewed research has demonstrated that for individuals with complex health conditions, medically tailored meals led to:

• 49% fewer inpatient admissions (Berkowitz 2019, JAMA)
• 16% reduction in health care costs (Berkowitz 2019, JAMA)
• 72% fewer skilled nursing facility admissions (Berkowitz 2019, JAMA)
• 70% fewer emergency department visits (Berkowitz 2018)
• 52% fewer inpatient admissions (Berkowitz 2018)

Data also shows that people who receive medically tailored meals:

• Have better adherence to medication (Kartika Palar, et.al., 2017, Journal of Urban Health)
• Have improved lab results (Berkowitz 2019, J. Gen. Int. Med)
• Have improved quality of life (Tapper 2020)

Medically tailored meals from God’s Love and other organizations accredited by the Food is Medicine Coalition cannot be duplicated at home.

While certainly healthy and nutritious, MTM are much more than just “healthy meals” or a “food delivery.”

In the pyramid here, you can see that MTM represent the most complex food and nutrition intervention for chronic and severe illness. MTM are best suited for high-cost, high-need individuals, many of whom have impaired mobility and lack caregiver support.