Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6199
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-20: 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
- 2026-07-01T08:08:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025 aims to broaden Medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy services—personalized nutrition counseling and interventions provided by registered dietitians or nutrition professionals—to help prevent, manage, or treat a wider range of chronic diseases and conditions. This expansion addresses limitations in current coverage, which is restricted to only diabetes and kidney disease, despite evidence that such therapy is effective and cost-saving for many other health issues.
Key Provisions
- Expanded Eligibility for Services: Medicare Part B will cover medical nutrition therapy for individuals with specified conditions, including:
- Diabetes and prediabetes.
- Renal (kidney) disease (except for those on maintenance dialysis, where coverage is handled separately).
- Obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure), dyslipidemia (high cholesterol or fats in the blood), malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases (e.g., celiac disease), HIV, AIDS, and cardiovascular disease.
- Additional conditions as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, such as those involving unintentional weight loss, if deemed medically necessary based on clinical guidelines, recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, or protocols from professional nutrition organizations.
- Referral Requirements: Services must be ordered by qualified providers, including physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, or—for eating disorders—clinical psychologists.
- Coverage Limitations: Therapy is excluded if not related to the specified conditions, ensuring targeted use.
- Implementation Timeline: Changes take effect for services provided starting two years after the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Broadened Scope of Coverage: Under current law (Section 1861 of the Social Security Act), medical nutrition therapy is limited to beneficiaries with diabetes or renal disease. This bill removes that restriction, adding over a dozen new conditions and allowing the Secretary to include more, aligning coverage with clinical standards of care.
- Updated Referral Process: Expands who can authorize services beyond just physicians, incorporating other licensed healthcare professionals to improve access.
- Modified Exclusions: Amends Section 1862(a)(1) to prevent coverage denials for therapy related to the new list of conditions, while maintaining exclusions for unrelated uses.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Medicare beneficiaries, particularly older adults and racial/ethnic minorities disproportionately affected by chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, obesity), will gain easier access to nutrition services. This could lead to better disease management, reduced complications, and lower out-of-pocket costs, potentially improving quality of life and promoting health equity.
- On Government Agencies: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will need to update policies, guidelines, and reimbursement systems within two years, possibly increasing short-term administrative costs but yielding long-term savings through preventive care that reduces hospitalizations and other expensive treatments.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as the bill focuses on domestic Medicare policy.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medicare Beneficiaries: Especially those with multiple chronic conditions (over two-thirds of fee-for-service enrollees), including underserved groups like racial and ethnic minorities.
- Healthcare Providers: Registered dietitians, nutrition professionals, physicians, and other authorized referrers who can now deliver or order expanded services.
- Government Entities: CMS for implementation and oversight; Congress for funding and policy alignment.
- Health Organizations: Groups like the American Diabetes Association or nutrition professional bodies, which may influence future Secretary determinations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens Medicare's role in preventive care by incorporating evidence-based clinical guidelines, potentially reducing future litigation over coverage denials. The bill's delegation to the Secretary for additional conditions provides flexibility but requires adherence to established standards to avoid arbitrary decisions.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; it operates within Congress's authority to regulate interstate commerce and social welfare programs like Medicare.
- Political: Highlights bipartisan support (introduced by a diverse group of representatives) for addressing chronic disease disparities and cost-effective healthcare. It may influence broader debates on expanding Medicare benefits amid rising healthcare costs, without mandating new spending but emphasizing long-term fiscal benefits through disease prevention.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (23)
Rep. Kiggans, Jennifer A. [R-VA-2], Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33], Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3], Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Riley, Josh [D-NY-19], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22], Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-20: 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.
- 2025-11-20: 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.
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025 — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (6 pages)