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Congress·In Committee·3 months ago

Congress seeks to expand Medicare coverage for nutrition therapy for obesity, cancer, HIV and more

Also known as: Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025

Legislative Progress

✓ Filed
Review
House
Senate
President

Impacts

Mixed Impacts(1)
Disability Benefits
Neutral
Positive Impacts(3)
Retiree
Helps
Medicare
Helps
Chronic Illness
Helps

Key Points

  • Would expand Medicare Part B coverage for medical nutrition therapy beyond just diabetes and kidney disease.
  • Adds more conditions that could qualify, including prediabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, HIV/AIDS, and heart disease.
  • Would let more health professionals refer patients for these nutrition services, not only doctors (for example, nurse practitioners and physician assistants).
  • Sets a rule that Medicare generally won’t cover these nutrition services unless they are tied to one of the listed conditions (or another condition later approved by Medicare).
  • Would start applying to services provided starting 2 years after the bill becomes law.
HealthcareMedicare Medicaid

Milestones

2 milestones2 actions
Nov 20, 2025House

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.

Nov 20, 2025

Introduced in House

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

For services furnished in years beginning 2 years after the law is enacted

Medicare coverage expands to include medical nutrition therapy for many more conditions

People with conditions like prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, high cholesterol, malnutrition, cancer, GI diseases, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, and eating disorders can have nutrition therapy covered by Medicare Part B when ordered/managed by an approved clinician.

In the months leading up to the new effective year

Clinics update referral and billing practices for the expanded nutrition therapy benefit

You may start hearing “Yes, Medicare covers that now” from primary care and specialty offices, and appointments with dietitians may become easier to schedule because the billing rules are clearer for more diagnoses.

After enactment and before/around the effective year

Medicare clarifies which additional conditions qualify under the “any other condition” category

Coverage could grow beyond the named list if Medicare decides nutrition therapy is medically necessary and appropriate for other diseases or for unintentional weight loss, following trusted medical recommendations. This can matter if you have a condition not listed exactly in the bill text.

Related News

1 article
Celiac Disease Foundation·3 months ago

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act Introduced in U.S. House of Representatives

Advocacy post on H.R. 6199 (Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025) and how it would expand Medicare Part B MNT coverage to additional conditions (including celiac disease) and broaden who can refer patients.

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Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025

Bill NumberHR 6199
Congress119th Congress
ChamberHouse of Representatives
Latest ActionReferred 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.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(11)
D: 9R: 2

Analysis generated by AI. While we strive for accuracy, this should not be considered legal or professional advice. Always verify information with official government sources.