加州医生开的药竟然是食物
You are probably aware that healthy eating can prevent a lot of illnesses, but it turns out that receiving proper nutrition can actually make the chronically sick healthier too. That's why some patients suffering from chronic or life-threatening illnesses are now being prescribed food in addition to medicine. It's part of an effort to increase health and reduce health care costs-and there's some solid evidence that it'll work. The program, spearheaded by the California division of the Food Is Medicine Coalition, uses proper nutrition to reduce the likelihood of hospitalization and intensive care for lower-income patients. It's part of a pilot program that Senator Ben Allen (D) and assembly members Blanca Rubio (D) and Richard Bloom (D) hope will spread, lowering costs of California's Medi-Cal system across the state, according to the Huffington Post. The new pilot program funds six different noNPRofit organizations scattered throughout California that deliver free prepared meals to Medicaid patients whose cases require them to be on a very specific, approved diet. For now, the pilot program will operate over the next three years and provide 12 weeks' worth of medically tailored meals to 1,000 people suffering from congestive heart failure-they'll receive carefully curated breakfasts, lunches, and dinners, as well as two in-home visits from registered dietitians. As the Huffington Post points out, healthcare professionals mandate that those suffering from congestive heart failure only consume about 2mg of sodium each day-an amount that's less than a teaspoon of salt. That's a challenge for anyone, let alone a patient who lives on a limited income. The program, which will cost California $6 million over the next three years, gained steam after a study was published tracking the success of one noNPRofit organization that provides meals for chronically ill residents living in Philadelphia. The noNPRofit is called MANNA, and it's one of 27 member organizations of the Food Is Medicine Coalition, an association of noNPRofits who work to provide healthy, medically prescribed meals to those suffering from serious illnesses in 18 states across the nation. |