Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of certain food and nutrition services under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — 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.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill proposes amendments to titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act. The goal is to require the Medicare and Medicaid programs to cover certain food and nutrition services. These services must meet requirements specified by the Secretary. For Medicare, the bill sets the payment amount at 80 percent of the actual charge for these services. The changes for both programs are set to take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The bill provides direct support to low-income households by making nutritional services a mandatory Medicaid benefit.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill improves healthcare access by providing coverage for essential food and nutrition services through Medicare and Medicaid.
- Scored +5
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill benefits seniors by expanding Medicare coverage to include food and nutrition services.
The opposite
- Scored -2
Does this reduce what the federal government spends?
The bill increases government spending by establishing new mandatory coverage for food and nutrition services under Medicare and Medicaid.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Medicare Coverage Expansion: The bill adds "food and nutrition services meeting such requirements as the Secretary shall specify" to the list of covered services under Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act. This would provide Medicare coverage for specific food and nutrition needs.
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Medicare Payment Structure: Under Section 1833(a)(1), the bill specifies that the amount paid for these services shall be equal to 80 percent of the actual charge.
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Medicaid Coverage Expansion: The bill amends Section 1905(a) to include "food and nutrition services meeting such requirements as the Secretary shall specify" as a covered service.
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Medicaid Mandatory Benefit: By amending Section 1902(a)(10)(A), the bill makes these food and nutrition services a mandatory benefit under the Medicaid program.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the provided text.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides direct support to low-income households by making nutritional services a mandatory Medicaid benefit. Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill provides additional nutritional benefits to retirees through the expanded Medicare coverage. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill benefits seniors by expanding Medicare coverage to include food and nutrition services.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill improves healthcare access by providing coverage for essential food and nutrition services through Medicare and Medicaid. Does this put more money into Medicaid, the health coverage for people on low incomes? — The bill mandates that Medicaid cover food and nutrition services that meet Secretary specifications. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands Medicare coverage to include specific food and nutrition services as a covered benefit.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill helps reduce the impact of poverty by providing nutritional support to low-income individuals through Medicaid.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this reduce what the federal government spends? — The bill increases government spending by establishing new mandatory coverage for food and nutrition services under Medicare and Medicaid.
- 6/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/20/2026
- 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.
- Introduced in House
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana