Nutrition CARE Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 2495
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-30T08:07:01Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2025 (Nutrition CARE Act) aims to expand Medicare coverage to include medical nutrition therapy services—counseling and interventions by dietitians to manage nutrition-related health issues—for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders. This addresses gaps in current Medicare benefits, which do not cover these services at outpatient, intensive outpatient, or residential levels for eating disorders, despite their high prevalence, mortality rates, and economic costs.
Key Provisions
- Eligibility Expansion: Starting January 1, 2026, Medicare Part B will cover medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with an eating disorder, defined using the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (a standard guide for mental health diagnoses published by the American Psychiatric Association).
- Service Delivery Requirements:
- Services must be provided by a registered dietitian or qualified nutrition professional.
- They require a referral from a physician (a doctor authorized to diagnose and treat) or a psychologist (or other mental health professional allowed under state law).
- Coverage Limits:
- In the first year of treatment: Up to 13 hours total, including a 1-hour initial assessment and 12 hours of follow-up reassessment and intervention.
- In each subsequent year: At least 4 hours, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services able to impose additional reasonable limits.
- Congressional Findings: The bill includes data on eating disorders, noting they affect about 9% of the U.S. population (including an estimated 1.6–2.1 million Medicare beneficiaries, with significant numbers among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color groups), cause over 10,000 deaths annually, and cost $64.7 billion yearly due to hospitalizations, emergency visits, and lost productivity. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive treatment, including nutrition therapy, especially for older adults at higher risk of complications.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1861 of the Social Security Act (the law governing Medicare benefits) by adding eating disorders alongside diabetes as a qualifying condition for medical nutrition therapy under subsection (s)(2)(V).
- Updates subsection (vv) to explicitly include eating disorder management in covered disease management services, specifies referral and provider rules, and introduces new time-based limits tailored to eating disorders (previously, coverage was more limited and not extended to this condition).
- Shifts from no outpatient coverage for eating disorder nutrition therapy to structured, time-limited coverage, filling a gap in mental and physical health integration.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will need to implement new eligibility rules, process claims for these services, and define eating disorders per the DSM, potentially increasing administrative workload and program costs (offset by possible reductions in expensive hospitalizations and emergency care, estimated at $209.7 million for inpatient stays and $29.3 million for ER visits annually related to eating disorders).
- On Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries with eating disorders, particularly older adults and underserved groups, gain better access to essential treatment, which could improve health outcomes, reduce mortality risks (e.g., from comorbidities like heart issues or suicide), and lower personal financial burdens from uncovered care.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic health policy focused on U.S. Medicare.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Primarily those with eating disorders (estimated 1.6–2.1 million, including 420,500–560,700 from Black, Indigenous, or People of Color communities), especially elderly individuals vulnerable to worsened health complications.
- Healthcare Providers: Registered dietitians, nutrition professionals, physicians, and mental health experts who can now refer patients and deliver covered services, potentially expanding their roles in eating disorder care.
- Families and Individuals: Those bearing economic losses ($23.5 billion annually) from untreated disorders, who may see reduced out-of-pocket costs and better recovery support.
- Government and Insurers: CMS and Congress, tasked with oversight and funding; broader implications for taxpayer-funded Medicare sustainability.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Expands Medicare's scope under the Social Security Act without altering core eligibility, relying on administrative definitions (e.g., DSM for diagnoses) that could lead to future clarifications via regulations or court challenges if coverage disputes arise. Ensures compliance with state laws for mental health referrals.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts; aligns with Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and provide for public welfare through social insurance programs like Medicare.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support (introduced by representatives from both parties) for mental health and nutrition equity, particularly for aging and minority populations. Could influence future expansions of Medicare mental health benefits amid rising awareness of eating disorders' severity, but may spark debates on federal spending versus cost savings from preventive care.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (44)
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20], Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Friedman, Laura [D-CA-30], Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8], Rep. Mrvan, Frank J. [D-IN-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-31: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
- 2025-03-31: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2025 — issued 2025-03-31 — PDF (6 pages)