Why Treatment Adherence Remains Healthcare’s Biggest Challenge

The hidden barrier in chronic disease care

Treatment adherence remains one of the most difficult aspects of chronic disease management. Even when patients have access to high-quality medical care, many still struggle to follow through on lifestyle changes, medication schedules, and nutrition recommendations.
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Studies show that up to 50% of patients fail to adhere to treatment plans for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The result: worsening symptoms, preventable complications, and higher healthcare spending.
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For many patients, the biggest obstacle isn’t lack of information—it’s the financial, logistical, and emotional burden of changing how they eat. Food-as-medicine programs, supported by platforms like Prado, help patients overcome these barriers through structured, accessible, reimbursable nutrition solutions.
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How Food-as-Medicine Directly Improves Adherence by making the treatment plan easy to follow

Food-as-medicine programs replace guesswork with ready-to-eat meals aligned with clinical protocols. Instead of expecting patients to fully redesign their eating habits, healthcare providers can curate meal plans for their patients through prado and  guide them toward practical, medically supported options that fit directly into daily life.

Clinically tailored meals help patients:

• Follow provider-guided macronutrient and calorie targets
• Maintain consistent meal timing
• Limit sodium for hypertension
• Reduce sugar and refined carbohydrates for diabetes
• Achieve sustainable caloric balance for obesity
  

Nutrition interventions often fail because patients don’t have the time, skills, or consistency needed for specialized diets. Prado’s digital infrastructure eliminates these gaps by offering meals that are:

• Prepared by vetted food operators
• Aligned with clinical nutrition guidance
• Delivered or easily accessible
• Portion-controlled and standardized

By simplifying choices and reducing cognitive load, this gives patients a clear, actionable way to follow their care plan.
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Reducing Financial Friction Drives Higher Adherence through HSA/FSA funds
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One of the strongest predictors of adherence is cost. Even highly motivated patients struggle when eating healthier feels financially out of reach.
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This is where Prado transforms access. Through Prado, healthcare providers can offer medically guided meals that are eligible for HSA/FSA payment, reducing out-of-pocket spending and removing a key reason for patients to fall off track.
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Prado’s infrastructure ensures:

• Proprietary workflows for compliant meal programs
• Integrated documentation for HSA/FSA eligibility
• Pre-tax payment options for patients
• Streamlined reimbursement processes

When healthy eating becomes financially achievable, adherence rises naturally and sustainably.
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A Scalable Way for Providers to Improve Adherence
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How Prado makes nutrition programs turnkey

Prado is built specifically for healthcare providers who want to integrate clinically aligned nutrition into their care model without operational complexity.

With Prado, providers gain:

• A compliant, validated food-as-medicine workflow
• Seamless HSA/FSA support and payment tools
• Connected food operators delivering medically guided meals
• Streamlined documentation and patient onboarding
• A scalable pathway for integrating nutrition into chronic care
  

This makes nutrition interventions both accessible for patients and practical for clinics, helping providers boost adherence while improving outcomes at scale.

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