Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act
Sponsored By: Senator Cory Booker
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a six-year demonstration under Medicare Part A to provide medically tailored home-delivered meals and medical nutrition therapy, with the goal of improving health and reducing hospital readmissions.
Show full summary
- Families and patients: High-risk Medicare beneficiaries living at home with diet-impacted diseases could receive at least 2 medically tailored home-delivered meals per day (or a portioned equivalent) meeting about two-thirds of daily nutrition and medical nutrition therapy for at least 12 weeks, with re-screening every 12 weeks.
- Hospitals and clinical staff: CMS would select at least 40 eligible hospitals to run the program by mid-2027; participating hospitals must attest they can meet staffing, quality (at least a 3-star hospital rating for acute care hospitals), and program integrity requirements.
- Medicare program and oversight: Payments come from the Medicare Part A trust fund and services have no beneficiary cost-sharing; CMS must monitor claims, compare outcomes to nonparticipants, and deliver an intermediate report within 3 years and a final report within 8 years.
*Projected to be budget neutral for Medicare Part A because program payments are offset by reductions in acute-care hospital payments under section 1886(d).*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Medically tailored meals and therapy
If enacted, selected hospitals would provide each qualified person at least two medically tailored home-delivered meals per day during each 12-week period. Meals must meet at least two-thirds of daily nutrition and fit medical and cultural needs. Hospitals must provide medical nutrition therapy for at least 12 weeks and up to one year in connection with meal delivery.
Medicare pilot for tailored meals
If enacted, the bill would start a 6-year Medicare pilot for medically tailored home-delivered meals. The pilot must begin no later than 30 months after enactment. Selected hospitals would deliver meals and related services to qualifying Part A beneficiaries to test health outcomes and readmission reductions.
Medicare payments and cost rules
If enacted, the Secretary would set how hospitals are paid for pilot services and must consider other payers' payments. Program-covered meals and services would be provided without Medicare Part A deductibles, copays, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing. Payments and program costs would come from the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund. Each year the Secretary would reduce certain hospital payments so those reductions equal the pilot's yearly cost.
Hospital screening and reporting rules
If enacted, the Secretary must choose at least 40 eligible hospitals by June 30, 2027. Hospitals must apply, meet quality tests, and attest they can run the pilot. Selected hospitals must staff clinicians or arrange staff to screen patients at discharge and rescreen every 12 weeks. Hospitals must submit data and the Secretary will evaluate results and report to Congress within 3 and 8 years after start.
Who can get pilot meals
If enacted, the pilot would serve people entitled to Medicare Part A who report they do not get similar state or federal meal benefits. Eligible people must have a diet-impacted disease (examples listed), live at home at discharge, not be in extended care or hospice, and be limited in at least two daily activities. The Secretary may add other high-readmission criteria.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cory Booker
NJ • D
Cosponsors
Roger Marshall
KS • R
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Bill Cassidy
LA • R
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Tina Smith
MN • D
Sponsored 9/17/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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