H.R. 5439 · In committee · Health

Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act

What it does

Establishes a 6-year Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program within Medicare Part A, with the Secretary to begin the program no later than 30 months after enactment.
Requires the Secretary to select at least 40 eligible hospitals (subsection (d) hospitals or critical access hospitals meeting quality and integrity standards) to participate in the program by June 30, 2027.
Directs selected hospitals to screen inpatient discharges using validated tools, provide at least 2 medically tailored home-delivered meals daily for 12 weeks (meeting two-thirds of daily nutritional needs and responsive to medical and cultural needs), and deliver medical nutrition therapy for 12 weeks to 1 year.
Eliminates cost-sharing (deductibles, copayments, coinsurance) for meals and related services provided under the program.
Requires the Secretary to conduct intermediate and final evaluations comparing inpatient readmissions, post-acute care admissions, Part A expenditures, clinical health outcomes, and total cost of care for program participants versus comparable non-participating beneficiaries.

Sep 16, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.

Committee: House Ways and Means