diff --git a/meshmode/distributed.py b/meshmode/distributed.py
index d99e90dc8..154edd5ef 100644
--- a/meshmode/distributed.py
+++ b/meshmode/distributed.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 .. autoclass:: InterRankBoundaryInfo
 .. autoclass:: MPIBoundaryCommSetupHelper
 
+.. autofunction:: mpi_distribute
 .. autofunction:: get_partition_by_pymetis
 .. autofunction:: membership_list_to_map
 .. autofunction:: get_connected_parts
@@ -37,8 +38,11 @@
 """
 
 from dataclasses import dataclass
+from contextlib import contextmanager
 import numpy as np
-from typing import List, Set, Union, Mapping, cast, Sequence, TYPE_CHECKING
+from typing import (
+    Any, Optional, List, Set, Union, Mapping, cast, Sequence, TYPE_CHECKING
+)
 
 from arraycontext import ArrayContext
 from meshmode.discretization.connection import (
@@ -66,12 +70,73 @@
 import logging
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
-TAG_BASE = 83411
-TAG_DISTRIBUTE_MESHES = TAG_BASE + 1
-
 
 # {{{ mesh distributor
 
+@contextmanager
+def _duplicate_mpi_comm(mpi_comm):
+    dup_comm = mpi_comm.Dup()
+    try:
+        yield dup_comm
+    finally:
+        dup_comm.Free()
+
+
+def mpi_distribute(
+        mpi_comm: "mpi4py.MPI.Intracomm",
+        source_rank: int = 0,
+        source_data: Optional[Mapping[int, Any]] = None) -> Optional[Any]:
+    """
+    Distribute data to a set of processes.
+
+    :arg mpi_comm: An ``MPI.Intracomm``
+    :arg source_rank: The rank from which the data is being sent.
+    :arg source_data: A :class:`dict` mapping destination ranks to data to be sent.
+        Only present on the source rank.
+
+    :returns: The data local to the current process if there is any, otherwise
+        *None*.
+    """
+    with _duplicate_mpi_comm(mpi_comm) as mpi_comm:
+        num_proc = mpi_comm.Get_size()
+        rank = mpi_comm.Get_rank()
+
+        local_data = None
+
+        if rank == source_rank:
+            if source_data is None:
+                raise TypeError("source rank has no data.")
+
+            sending_to = [False] * num_proc
+            for dest_rank in source_data.keys():
+                sending_to[dest_rank] = True
+
+            mpi_comm.scatter(sending_to, root=source_rank)
+
+            reqs = []
+            for dest_rank, data in source_data.items():
+                if dest_rank == rank:
+                    local_data = data
+                    logger.info("rank %d: received data", rank)
+                else:
+                    reqs.append(mpi_comm.isend(data, dest=dest_rank))
+
+            logger.info("rank %d: sent all data", rank)
+
+            from mpi4py import MPI
+            MPI.Request.waitall(reqs)
+
+        else:
+            receiving = mpi_comm.scatter([], root=source_rank)
+
+            if receiving:
+                local_data = mpi_comm.recv(source=source_rank)
+                logger.info("rank %d: received data", rank)
+
+        return local_data
+
+
+# TODO: Deprecate?
 class MPIMeshDistributor:
     """
     .. automethod:: is_mananger_rank
@@ -99,9 +164,7 @@ def send_mesh_parts(self, mesh, part_per_element, num_parts):
         Sends each part to a different rank.
         Returns one part that was not sent to any other rank.
         """
-        mpi_comm = self.mpi_comm
-        rank = mpi_comm.Get_rank()
-        assert num_parts <= mpi_comm.Get_size()
+        assert num_parts <= self.mpi_comm.Get_size()
 
         assert self.is_mananger_rank()
 
@@ -110,38 +173,16 @@ def send_mesh_parts(self, mesh, part_per_element, num_parts):
         from meshmode.mesh.processing import partition_mesh
         parts = partition_mesh(mesh, part_num_to_elements)
 
-        local_part = None
-
-        reqs = []
-        for r, part in parts.items():
-            if r == self.manager_rank:
-                local_part = part
-            else:
-                reqs.append(mpi_comm.isend(part, dest=r, tag=TAG_DISTRIBUTE_MESHES))
-
-        logger.info("rank %d: sent all mesh parts", rank)
-        for req in reqs:
-            req.wait()
-
-        return local_part
+        return mpi_distribute(
+            self.mpi_comm, source_rank=self.manager_rank, source_data=parts)
 
     def receive_mesh_part(self):
         """
         Returns the mesh sent by the manager rank.
         """
-        mpi_comm = self.mpi_comm
-        rank = mpi_comm.Get_rank()
-
         assert not self.is_mananger_rank(), "Manager rank cannot receive mesh"
 
-        from mpi4py import MPI
-        status = MPI.Status()
-        result = self.mpi_comm.recv(
-                source=self.manager_rank, tag=TAG_DISTRIBUTE_MESHES,
-                status=status)
-        logger.info("rank %d: received local mesh (size = %d)", rank, status.count)
-
-        return result
+        return mpi_distribute(self.mpi_comm, source_rank=self.manager_rank)
 
 # }}}