Bill · S. 1971· Senate(119-S-1971)
Nutrition CARE Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 6/5/2025
- Last activity
- 6/5/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Maggie Hassan
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Nutrition CARE Act of 2025," aims to amend the Social Security Act to include coverage for medical nutrition therapy services for individuals with eating disorders under Medicare. It seeks to address gaps where Medicare currently does not cover outpatient medical nutrition therapy or intensive/residential treatment for these conditions. The proposed changes would allow beneficiaries with eating disorders to receive services from registered dietitians or nutrition professionals. These services would require a referral from a physician or a psychologist. The coverage would include specific hour requirements for assessments and interventions over one-year periods.
Yes· 3 of 6
Does this make mental health care easier to get?+8
The bill provides essential nutrition therapy services for individuals suffering from eating disorders, a critical mental health condition.
Would people over 65 be better off under this?+8
The bill specifically benefits Medicare beneficiaries, who are often seniors, by covering critical eating disorder treatments.
Would retired people be better off under this?+8
The bill provides essential healthcare coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, a group that includes many retirees.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Coverage for Medical Nutrition Therapy: The bill amends the Social Security Act to include coverage for beneficiaries with an eating disorder, which provides essential treatment that Medicare currently does not cover at the outpatient level (Section 3).
-
Structured Treatment Hours: The bill establishes specific timeframes for services, including a 1-hour initial assessment and 12 hours of reassessment and intervention during the first year, as well as 4 hours during subsequent years (Section 3, paragraph (2)(B)(4)(A)).
-
Professional Care Access: It allows for services to be furnished by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional following a referral by a physician or a psychologist (Section 3, paragraph (2)(A)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Discretionary Limitations on Care: The Secretary is granted the authority to apply other reasonable limitations on the medical nutrition therapy services provided during subsequent one-year periods (Section 3, paragraph (2)(B)(4)(A)(ii)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Improves Mental Health Access+8Improves Healthcare Access+7Increases Medicare Funding+7
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Retirees+8Good For Seniors+8
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3
- 6/5/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska