Massachusetts Medicaid meal deliveries cut hospital visits, study finds

According to the piece, a Nature Medicine study tracked about 1,900 Massachusetts Medicaid recipients who received medically tailored meals for at least three months and found they had 20% fewer emergency department visits and 31% fewer hospitalizations than similar patients who didn't get meals — evidence a researcher says shows the approach 'actually saves the healthcare system money.' Thirteen states now have federal waivers to run similar programs, with three more pending. The reporting notes the model faces new risk as the Trump administration signals more skepticism toward Medicaid-funded social supports and states weigh cuts, making this a useful case study for officials deciding whether such programs are worth defending or replicating.