"Food is Medicine: The Case for Insurance Coverage of Medically-Tailored Meals"
Abstract
Professor Greenwald of Harvard Law School will describe law and policy reform efforts to support the provision of medically tailored meals to individuals living with chronic and serious health conditions. Medically tailored meals are meals approved by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) that reflect appropriate dietary therapy to address specific medical diagnoses and are based on evidence-based practice guidelines.
The presentation will provide an in-depth look at published research demonstrating that medically tailored meals are proven to reduce healthcare costs and improve outcomes for individuals with complex illnesses. It will describe current efforts of medically tailored meal providers to meet the needs of their patients through innovative public and private health care initiatives. It will also provide an overview of efforts to secure new public and private health insurance coverage through both federal and state reforms to our health care financing and delivery systems.
Bio
Robert Greenwald is a Clinical Professor of Law at Harvard Law School and the Faculty Director of the Law School’s Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation. In addition to teaching seminars in health and public health law and policy, Robert is engaged in state and national research, policy development and advocacy to expand access to high-quality healthcare and nutritious affordable food, to reduce health disparities, and to promote more equitable and effective healthcare and food systems. Robert directs a clinical teaching program of Harvard Law School that mentors students to become skilled, innovative, and thoughtful practitioners as well as leaders in health, public health, and food law and policy.