Can ‘Produce Prescriptions’ Save $40B in Medical Expenses for Diabetic Individuals?
Can 'Produce Prescriptions' Save $40B in Medical Expenses for Diabetic Individuals?
Produce Prescription: A Healthy Solution to Diabetes and Diet-Related Conditions
A bunch of healthy fruits and vegetables could be just what the doctor ordered. Nonprofit groups and public health agencies have experimented with the idea of a produce prescription over the years. Now, a new study simulates what would happen if patients with diabetes and diet-related conditions were given free or discounted produce and nutrition education nationwide. The researchers, from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston, report it could have significant health benefits and save billions of dollars in health care costs.
“Of the strategies that can improve Americans’ nutrition and diet-related health outcomes, evidence continues to build that produce prescriptions are a terrific option,” said senior author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and professor of nutrition, who is also launching an initiative dubbed Food is Medicine. “These innovative treatments are exciting because they can not only improve health and reduce health care spending, but also reduce disparities by reaching those patients who are most in need.”
Typically, produce prescription programs allow a patient with a diet-related health condition to get vouchers or electronic cards for free or discounted fruits and vegetables that would be delivered to the patient’s home or picked up from a grocery store or farmer’s market. The long-term benefits of this idea had not previously been investigated, according to this study.
The simulation predicted both clinical and financial benefits from making fruits and vegetables more accessible to food-insecure diabetic patients, including a savings of at least $40 billion in medical bills because of nationwide reductions in heart disease. This study estimated that a national produce prescription program for 40- to 79-year-olds with diabetes and food insecurity could prevent 296,000 cases of cardiovascular disease, such as heart attacks and stroke. In addition to saving nearly $40 billion in health care spending, the strategy could also save $4.8 billion in lost productivity costs.
“When we looked at different subgroups of Americans, we found broadly similar benefits by insurance type, race, and ethnicity,” said first author Lu Wang, a postdoctoral fellow at the Friedman School. “These results suggest that a national produce prescription initiative could benefit all Americans, highlighting the potential of Food is Medicine strategies to alleviate health inequities caused by food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related diseases.”
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The Friedman School team pooled studies of 20 smaller-scale initiatives and nationally representative datasets to run the simulation. It assumed that all American adults ages 40 to 79 who are living with diabetes and food insecurity would increase their fruit and vegetable consumption by an average of 0.8 servings per day, which is about equal to one small apple. It also presumed expected reductions in their blood pressure and body mass index (a measure of body fat based on height and weight).
“A national program could be enacted through the inclusion of produce prescriptions as a covered health care benefit, already being piloted by several states under Medicaid section 1115 waivers as well as by private health care payers,” Mozaffarian said. “Our new findings help inform implementation to scale and evaluate these programs across the United States.”
The findings were recently published online in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Bottom Line
A produce prescription program that provides free or discounted fruits and vegetables, along with nutrition education, could have profound health benefits and financial savings for patients with diabetes and diet-related conditions. This innovative approach, known as Food is Medicine, aims to improve health outcomes, reduce healthcare spending, and address health inequities.
The Potential Health Benefits
The simulation conducted by researchers from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University in Boston reveals the potential health benefits that a national produce prescription program could offer. By making fruits and vegetables more accessible to food-insecure diabetic patients, the study estimated a prevention of 296,000 cases of cardiovascular disease among 40- to 79-year-olds. This includes a reduction in heart disease, leading to significant savings of at least $40 billion in medical bills. Moreover, the program could also save $4.8 billion in lost productivity costs. These findings suggest that a produce prescription initiative has the potential to benefit all Americans and alleviate health inequities caused by food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related diseases.
The Approach of Produce Prescription Programs
Produce prescription programs typically provide vouchers or electronic cards to patients with diet-related health conditions, enabling them to obtain free or discounted fruits and vegetables. This produce is delivered to the patient’s home or made available at local grocery stores or farmer’s markets. While the short-term benefits of produce prescriptions were previously known, this study delves into the long-term benefits that had not been previously investigated. By simulating a national produce prescription program, researchers were able to showcase the significant clinical and financial advantages it represents.
Implementing a National Produce Prescription Initiative
To scale and evaluate produce prescription programs across the United States, a national program could be enacted by including produce prescriptions as a covered health care benefit. Currently, several states are piloting this concept under Medicaid section 1115 waivers, and private health care payers are also exploring its potential. The integration of produce prescriptions into America’s healthcare system has the potential to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare spending while addressing health disparities caused by food and nutrition insecurity and diet-related diseases.
Conclusion
The potential of a produce prescription program is immense. By providing access to free or discounted fruits and vegetables, along with nutrition education, this initiative not only promises to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs but also aims to address health disparities among the most vulnerable populations. The findings of this study serve as a valuable resource for implementing and evaluating produce prescription programs across the nation, bringing us one step closer to a healthier, more equitable society.
More information:
- The American Diabetes Association has more on diabetes and food insecurity.
- Source: Tufts University, news release, July 7, 2023
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