biostudies-literatureDeng SNIDDK NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHSNIMHD NIH HHS433-442https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12919973biostudies-literatureUnknown44(4)Medically tailored meals (MTMs) can reduce health care use among high-risk patients with diet-related conditions. However, the potential impact of providing coverage for MTMs across fifty US states remains unknown. Using a population-based, open-cohort simulation model, we estimated state-specific one-year and five-year changes in annual hospitalizations, health care spending, and cost-effectiveness of MTMs for patients with diet-related diseases and limitations in activities of daily living, covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Assuming full uptake among eligible people, MTMs were net cost saving in the first year in forty-nine states, with the largest savings seen in Connecticut ($6,299 per patient). The exception was Alabama, where MTMs were cost-neutral. The number of tHealth affairs (Project Hope)Estimated Impact Of Medically Tailored Meals On Health Care Use And Expenditures In 50 US States.PMC12919973R01 HL115189R01 MD019094R01 DK134452Deng SWong JBKim DDHager KMozaffarian DCudhea FPWang LfalseEstimated Impact Of Medically Tailored Meals On Health Care Use And Expenditures In 50 US States.Medically tailored meals (MTMs) can reduce health care use among high-risk patients with diet-related conditions. However, the potential impact of providing coverage for MTMs across fifty US states remains unknown. Using a population-based, open-cohort simulation model, we estimated state-specific one-year and five-year changes in annual hospitalizations, health care spending, and cost-effectiveness of MTMs for patients with diet-related diseases and limitations in activities of daily living, covered by Medicaid, Medicare, or private insurance. Assuming full uptake among eligible people, MTMs were net cost saving in the first year in forty-nine states, with the largest savings seen in Connecticut ($6,299 per patient). The exception was Alabama, where MTMs were cost-neutral. The number of t2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Apr2026-07-16T18:49:42.804Z2026-07-12T03:09:06.196ZS-EPMC129199734019383710.1377/hlthaff.2024.01307