Free meals tied to doctor visits may cut heart failure readmissions

This study tested whether providing medically tailored meals or fresh produce boxes to heart failure patients after hospital discharge could improve their health and reduce return visits to the hospital. 150 adults who were recently hospitalized for heart failure were randomly assigned to receive food supplements either conditionally (based on attending follow-up visits and taking medications) or unconditionally, or to receive a monetary supplement instead. The goal was to see if healthy food, especially when linked to healthcare engagement, could lower readmissions and emergency visits.