Recognizing Malnutrition Awareness Week

Floor Speech

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Mrs. BEATTY. Mr. Speaker, this week, September 28, 2015 through October 2nd, has been designated as Malnutrition Awareness Week.

Malnutrition is a problem for millions of Americans nationwide, including in my home state of Ohio, and is often ignored in the deliverance of healthcare.

We should recognize this critical, yet often unseen epidemic in our country, and fight to eliminate it.

Hunger, obesity, and food insecurity all contribute to malnourishment in our country and disproportionately affects senior citizens and low-income families.

In fact, patients with malnutrition have been shown to potentially suffer longer hospital stays, have slower healing times, and be at greater risk for re-hospitalizations and complications.

Focusing on malnutrition care will help yield transformative policies for patient-centered medical care and make a meaningful difference in the lives of our nation's older adults.

Additionally, systematic malnutrition screenings, assessments, and appropriate interventions for older adults are often not accessible, but could be vital to leading healthier lives, and result in health care cost savings.

We cannot afford to ignore such low-cost solutions.

That is why I, along with Congresswoman MARCIA FUDGE, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) urging improved incorporation of nutrition into programs and improvement in patient care and outcomes.

This week, let's have a call to action to increase awareness and find solutions that better support the healthy aging of all senior citizens and the health of vulnerable families through focusing on eliminating malnutrition in our country.

Healthy citizens mean a healthy society, economy, and future of our country.

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