ATA Action Launches Virtual Foodcare Coalition for Telehealth and Nutritional Support
The American Telemedicine Association's advocacy arm, ATA Action, has launched the Virtual Foodcare Coalition. This initiative brings together telehealth organizations, foodcare providers, and legal experts to promote policies aligning telehealth with nutritional support. The coalition aims to enhance health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by providing accessible expert nutritional advice and support.
Founding members include telehealth organizations like Teladoc Health and hims & hers, foodcare providers such as Amazon and Albertson's, and the Nixon Law Group. The coalition supports the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act to expand Medicare coverage for nutrition therapy through telehealth for various conditions. They also advocate for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force to designate medical nutrition therapy as a preventive service for all individuals.
The coalition works to expand access to medically nutritious meals. They support the Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Demonstration Pilot Act, allowing hospitals to provide medically tailored meals and nutrition therapy for Medicare beneficiaries following hospital discharge. They also aim to ensure food support programs offer online access points and reimburse meals delivered to homes, aiming to end food deserts.
Foodsmart, a founding member, offers medical nutrition therapy and food benefits management via registered dietitians using telehealth, with the majority of clients having Medicaid insurance. The coalition collaborates with U.S. health agencies like HHS and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) to promote virtual food care programs and policies.
The Virtual Foodcare Coalition, launched by ATA Action, brings together diverse stakeholders to advance personalized dietary interventions and food-as-medicine solutions within healthcare systems. By promoting policies that expand access to nutritious meals and expert nutritional advice, the coalition seeks to improve health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.
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