When nutrition becomes treatment: Inside New Jersey’s Medically Indicated Meals Pilot

In New Jersey, over one million residents were food insecure in 2023.¹ For those who are pregnant, a lack of nutrition is linked to low birth weights, premature births and developmental delays in babies, and the development of mental health challenges and gestational diabetes in mothers.² For those with diabetes, food insecurity can lead to higher A1C levels, diabetes-related complications and hospitalizations.³

To address this, the New Jersey Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services launched the NJ FamilyCare Medically Indicated Meals (MIM) Pilot under the state’s Medicaid 1115 Demonstration. The initiative treats nutrition as a core part of treatment. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey, collaborating with Mom’s Meals, is helping bring this vision to life by delivering dietitian-designed meals directly to pregnant members with diabetes who are experiencing food insecurity.

Treating food as medicine for high-risk pregnancies

Through the pilot, eligible participants may receive up to two medically tailored meals per day during pregnancy and for at least two months after delivery. Each meal is crafted by registered dietitians to meet the nutritional needs of individuals balancing pregnancy and diabetes, with careful attention to carbohydrates, sodium and portion size.

Additional meals can be provided for household members so that mothers are not forced to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their families. The goal is to help stabilize blood-glucose levels, support healthy fetal development and reduce preventable complications.

Integrating meals with care management

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey is integrating this benefit into its existing obstetrical case management program so that nutrition, prenatal care and community supports work together. Care managers help identify eligible members, coordinate enrollment and connect families to Women, Infants, Children (WIC), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and local food resources. Mom’s Meals provides home delivery, culturally responsive menu choices and clear instructions for storage and reheating.

Reaching mothers at the highest risk

The pilot focuses on NJ FamilyCare members who are pregnant, diagnosed with diabetes and experiencing food insecurity. Participation is voluntary, with multiple pathways including provider referral and self-enrollment. Statewide, up to 300 members each year may participate through June 2028, with UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey serving as one of two managed care collaborators implementing the benefit.

Measuring outcomes

The Rutgers Center for State Health Policy will examine the following outcomes:

• Blood-glucose control and pregnancy complications
• Emergency department visits and inpatient admissions
• Postpartum and newborn outcomes such as birth weight
• Levels of food insecurity and engagement with WIC/SNAP
  

These measures will help determine whether medically indicated meals can reduce costs while improving the earliest chapters of life, guiding future decisions about expansion to additional Medicaid populations.

Managed care advancing system transformation

The MIM Pilot represents a turning point in how maternal care is delivered in New Jersey, acknowledging that a healthy pregnancy depends on more than clinic visits alone. Through its collaboration with Mom’s Meals, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey is helping ensure that high-risk mothers have reliable access to the nutrition they need to manage diabetes and welcome healthier babies

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