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Pennsylvania House of Representatives
05/11/2024 08:03 PM
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20230&cosponId=39592
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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: January 30, 2023 02:44 PM
From: Representative Donna Bullock and Rep. Jordan A. Harris, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, Rep. Stephen Kinsey
To: All House members
Subject: Increasing Access to Medically Tailored Meals
 
Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) are necessary for the health and wellbeing of chronically ill individuals as they provide nutritional food options and ease of access for those unable to prepare their own meals. MTMs also help reduce hospitalizations and health care costs. Research has found that MTMs led to a 16% net reduction in health care costs; 72% fewer skilled nursing facility admissions; and a 70% drop in emergency department visits.

Several organizations located throughout the U.S. provide MTMs to eligible clients, including the Philadelphia-based Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA). Additionally, in December 2022, Highmark Health announced a new pilot program to provide MTMs to Highmark members, which will help lower the costs associated with accessing MTMs. While Highmark’s decision is a step in the right direction, we as legislators need to do more to address food insecurity and health disparities throughout the state.

Our proposal is twofold: we plan to introduce legislation to establish a Medically Tailored Meals Pilot Program in Pennsylvania that will allow hospitals to provide eligible Medical Assistance (MA) beneficiaries with MTMs. Concurrently, we plan to introduce a resolution that would encourage health insurers to follow in Highmark Health’s footsteps and provide coverage for MTMs for beneficiaries residing in Pennsylvania.

We urge you to join in co-sponsoring these proposals to provide nutritious meals for some of our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians.


Document #1

Introduced as HB667

Description: This bill will require the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish a pilot program to allow hospitals to provide MTMs to Medical Assistance (MA) beneficiaries who are considered chronically ill and have daily living limitations.
 

Document #2

Introduced as HR43

Description: This resolution will encourage health insurance providers to provide coverage for MTMs for Pennsylvania beneficiaries.