A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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, 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
- Scored +8
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill provides essential nutrition therapy services for individuals suffering from eating disorders, a critical mental health condition.
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill specifically benefits Medicare beneficiaries, who are often seniors, by covering critical eating disorder treatments.
- Scored +8
Would retired people be better off under this?
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
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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).
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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)).
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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. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill provides essential nutrition therapy services for individuals suffering from eating disorders, a critical mental health condition. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — It fills a significant gap in Medicare coverage for outpatient and intensive eating disorder treatment. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands Medicare coverage to include specific medical nutrition therapy for eating disorders.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — The bill provides essential healthcare coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, a group that includes many retirees. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill specifically benefits Medicare beneficiaries, who are often seniors, by covering critical eating disorder treatments.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill addresses a condition that significantly affects a large number of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color as noted in the findings.
- 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