Medicaid Nutrition Supports Associated With Reductions In Hospitalizations And ED Visits In Massachusetts, 2020-23

Top Things to Know

Participants experienced fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Adults enrolled for over ninety days saw significant reductions in health care costs.

The program's impact was greater after the COVID-19 pandemic subsided.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The study evaluated the impact of the Massachusetts Medicaid Flexible Services Program, which provides nutritional support to address food insecurity. Over three years (2020-2023), the program was associated with a 23% reduction in hospitalizations and a 13% reduction in emergency department visits among participants compared to nonparticipants. Health care costs for participants were lower, but not significantly so, except for adults enrolled for more than ninety days, who saw a significant reduction in costs. The program's effectiveness was more pronounced after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings support the integration of nutrition services into Medicaid to improve health outcomes and potentially reduce costs.