Everyone should be able to achieve optimal health, regardless of systemic inequalities based on their background. However, there are often barriers to healthcare for socially at-risk populations, which result in a lower quality of care for these groups—and a health equity gap.
What is the health equity gap?
The health equity gap represents the differences in health outcomes, healthcare access, and overall well-being that exist among various population groups. These disparities are often shaped by factors like race, ethnicity, income, education, and where people live. As a result, some communities experience a higher burden of chronic diseases and reduced quality of life.
Addressing these gaps means more than just providing care; it’s about understanding and tackling the root causes of these inequalities to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their best possible health.
Strategies for meal program vendors to promote health equity
By focusing on these key areas, healthcare providers and their vendors can ensure they close the health equity gap:
1. Ensure Nutritional Adequacy
Offering tailored meal options that meet the specific nutritional needs of diverse groups, including those with chronic conditions or dietary restrictions, supports better health outcomes for all plan members.
2. Enhance Accessibility
Implementing strategies to improve accessibility—such as expanding delivery areas, providing transportation solutions, and simplifying the ordering process—ensures that all members can receive nutritious meals, regardless of their circumstances.
3. Embrace Cultural Diversity
Incorporating culturally appropriate foods into meal offerings helps meet various groups’ dietary preferences and religious requirements, increasing utilization rates and fostering inclusivity within the program.
4. Invest in Data Collection and Reporting
Establishing robust systems for tracking and reporting data on meal program usage across different populations allows vendors to identify disparities and make informed adjustments to serve all communities better.
How LiveWell with Traditions close the health equity gap
For more than 50 years, LiveWell with Traditions have focused on making healthy, enjoyable meals accessible to older adults. Today, we produce over 125 million meals annually, serving older adults nationwide.
The concept of health equity is at the core of everything we do, and we’re focused on ensuring that social determinants of health don’t stand in the way of nourishing vulnerable populations. Here are just some of the ways we help contribute to closing the gap and contributing to positive health outcomes:
- Our medically tailored meals are dietitian-designed and nutritionally balanced to adhere to dietary recommendations for individuals with chronic health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes.
- Our chef-prepared meals offer diverse flavors and options that not only satisfy members’ tastes but also honor their cultural preferences and religious requirements.
- Our hybrid high-touch delivery model brings meals directly to members’ doors, providing a friendly, personal experience and serving as an extra set of eyes for the plan. We can capture feedback from older adults and relay valuable insights to the plan and program.
- Our drivers can support your organization in capturing robust, relevant data by taking observational notes via tablet and conducting surveys on member satisfaction, enabling you to respond efficiently and effectively to any issues.
How does this benefit Medicare Advantage Organizations?
It’s clear that our meal benefits program helps deliver more equitable healthcare to vulnerable populations through proper nutrition—and gives MAOs an advantage by making your plan more appealing to members.
Additionally, adding our supplemental meal benefit to your plan will help you achieve a better Health Equity Index (HEI) score, allowing you to achieve a higher Star Rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)—and in some cases, earn financial incentives. To learn more about the new HEI reward program developed by the CMS, read our post about how we can help MAOs improve their HEI Star Ratings. (add link once uploaded)
Partnering with TRIO and LiveWell with Traditions to close the gap
We have always been committed to giving socially at-risk groups access to the nourishing meals they need, and welcome the opportunity to work with you to deliver this benefit to an even larger population. Contact us for more information on adding our meal benefit and working together to minimize barriers to equitable healthcare for all.
To learn more about how medically tailored meals can help your organization close the health equity gap for your plan members download our white paper Food as Medicine: How Medically Tailored Meals and Home-Delivered Nutrition Enhances Americans’ Health and Reduces Healthcare Costs.
