Colorado is facing a defining moment. With a projected $1 billion state budget shortfall and chronic disease rates that continue to rise, our health and human services systems are being stretched beyond capacity. This challenge is too big for any one organization, sector or agency to solve alone. If we want healthier communities — and a healthier economy — we must rethink what drives health in the first place.
An estimated 129 million people in the U.S. currently live with at least one major chronic disease, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, kidney or heart disease, according to CDC research. Here in Colorado, the numbers are equally concerning. Data from 2017-2023 shows that 22% of our neighbors have been diagnosed with a chronic condition, with 7 out of 10 experiencing more than one. The financial toll is staggering: spending on high blood pressure reaches $13 billion annually in Colorado, and high cholesterol costs the state $10 billion each year.
For many of these conditions, diet is one of the most significant — and most overlooked — factors. Colorado surpasses many states in health metrics, but we still face critical challenges. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment’s 2021 VISION nutrition data, 19% of Colorado adults reported eating vegetables less than once per day, and 38% reported eating fruit less than once daily. Meanwhile, more than one-third of adults in Colorado experience food insecurity.
If we want to address the root causes of chronic diseases, we must employ smarter, more cost-effective strategies. This is where Food is Medicine comes in.
Food is Medicine integrates nutritious food into health care to treat, manage or prevent chronic diseases. The most rigorously studied approach, medically tailored meals, provides home-delivered meals customized to a person’s medical conditions, allergies, cultural preferences and nutritional needs. These meals are prescribed by health care providers just like medications or therapies.
And the results are clear: These programs save lives and money. A 2022 JAMA study estimated that expanding medically tailored meals nationwide could save $13.6 billion annually and prevent 1.6 million hospitalizations. Considering the average cost of a hospital stay in Colorado — between $2,802 and $4,118 per day — solutions like this offer a meaningful intervention for managing chronic disease.
In Colorado, Project Angel Heart is demonstrating how effective these programs can be. Our Colorado-based nonprofit prepares and delivers more than 800,000 medically tailored meals annually to Coloradans living with severe illnesses. Clients receive meals free of charge, thanks to generous donors and partnerships with dozens of organizations, including health care providers.
In 2018, we examined health care costs of Project Angel Heart clients before, during and after they received meal deliveries. We saw a decrease in hospital readmissions. We also saw that clients with CHF, COPD, end-stage renal disease and diabetes spent from $111/month to $555/month less on hospital medical expenses than they did prior to receiving meals.
Nationally, nearly 9 in 10 patients say they would prefer to rely on healthy eating instead of medications to manage or prevent disease, and 80% of Americans across political affiliations believe Food is Medicine programs should be covered by insurance.
Earlier this year, over 300 leaders gathered at the Colorado Food is Medicine Summit to discuss how we can scale initiatives like these and adopt a systems-wide approach to addressing chronic diseases. During the event, The Rockefeller Foundation and Builder’s Vision announced the creation of a $10 million investment to accelerate Food is Medicine programs in the U.S. This first-of-a-kind investment will support a new state officer program in 10 states. Even beyond this opportunity, state leaders should further integrate Food is Medicine into Colorado’s health policy framework.
This decision will shape Colorado’s next chapter. Food is Medicine will not solve all our health challenges. But it is one of the most cost-effective, evidence-based tools available to us. At a time when the need for action is urgent, integrating health care and nutrition offers a solution that serves people and our state’s economy.
With the momentum gained at the Food is Medicine Summit, additional funding opportunities on the horizon and success stories like Stephanie’s as our guide, we can make a meaningful impact for Colorado. Let’s seize this moment together.
Marti Macchi, of Golden, holds a doctorate in public health and is the president and CEO of the nonprofit Project Angel Heart.
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