[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 178 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1078-E1079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING MALNUTRITION AWARENESS WEEK

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                        HON. BILL PASCRELL, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2021

  Mr. PASCRELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of 
Malnutrition Awareness Week. This week marks the tenth observance of 
Malnutrition Awareness Week, which was founded by the American Society 
for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition in 2012.
  Each year during this week. participating organizations seek to 
educate health care professionals about early detection and treatment 
of malnutrition, educate consumers on the importance of discussing 
their nutrition status with health care professionals, and increase 
awareness of nutrition's role in patient recovery.
  Malnutrition is particularly prevalent in vulnerable populations, 
such as hospitalized patients, older adults, and minority populations. 
For example, one in two older adults is either malnourished or at risk 
of malnutrition.
  Our Nation has financial as well as moral incentives to reduce 
malnutrition. Good nutrition can keep people healthy and out of health 
care institutions, thus reducing health care costs. Untreated 
malnutrition can lead to the loss of lean body mass, in turn causing 
complications such as delays in wound healing and recovery from 
surgery, illness, or disease. In fact, the current estimated cost for 
disease-associated malnutrition in older adults alone is $51.3 billion 
per year.
  The good news is that common-sense solutions exist that can help 
reduce the prevalence of malnutrition now.

[[Page E1079]]

  Clinical quality measures have been developed and tested to help 
improve nutrition screening and intervention and are being implemented 
by a learning collaborative of over 300 hospitals nationwide. 
Recognizing the linkages between malnutrition, food insecurity, and 
hunger, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should consider 
adding a malnutrition composite quality measure to its Medicare 
inpatient acute care reporting system.
  Additionally, the Departments of Health and Human Services and 
Agriculture should work together to develop dietary guidance for the 
prevention and treatment of malnutrition in older adults and those with 
chronic conditions.
  Malnutrition has been exacerbated by the global COVID-19 health 
pandemic that has intensified disparities, inequities, and social 
isolation and is further compounded by food insecurity. The importance 
of nutrition has been recognized by Congress with our passage of four 
different COVID-19 emergency funding bills, all of which I was proud to 
support.
  I commend all those associated with Malnutrition Awareness Week, 
particularly the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition 
and the Defeat Malnutrition Today coalition. I also commend all those 
on the front lines of providing nutrition services to those in need, 
especially the national network of Meals on Wheels programs in our 
nation.
  Working together, we can stop malnutrition in the United States. I 
look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle 
to accomplish this goal.

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