Bill > S2147

This bill establishes a commission on malnutrition prevention within the department of public health, which will be chaired by the commissioner of public health or their designee and include representatives from various state agencies such as elder affairs, transitional assistance, and agricultural resources, as well as legislative co-chairs and nine governor-appointed members with expertise in healthcare and nutrition. The commission's primary role is to investigate and study the impact of malnutrition on older adults in the commonwealth, explore effective prevention strategies, and monitor how malnutrition affects healthcare costs, outcomes, and quality of life for this population, with a mandate to consider improved data collection, assess malnutrition risks across care settings, identify public awareness campaigns, and evaluate evidence-based interventions like community nutrition programs and medical nutrition therapy to reduce malnutrition rates and related health issues.