A Republican bill with 16 Democratic cosponsors · See all 22 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
The "Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025" aims to amend the Social Security Act to coordinate programs for preventing and treating obesity. The bill expands the types of health care providers who can furnish intensive behavioral therapy for obesity under Medicare. It also adjusts Medicare Part D coverage to include drugs used for obesity treatment or weight loss management for overweight individuals with related comorbidities. Additionally, the Act requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit regular reports to Congress regarding the implementation of these provisions.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The bill specifically targets obesity treatment and medication coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, who are primarily seniors.
- Scored +8
Would retired people be better off under this?
The bill enhances Medicare benefits, which directly benefits the retiree population through improved obesity care.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill expands the types of providers and services covered under Medicare to treat obesity.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Access to Therapy Providers: The Secretary may cover intensive behavioral therapy for obesity furnished by physicians who are not primary care practitioners, as well as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, clinical psychologists, and registered dietitians or nutrition professionals. This allows for more diverse provider options (Section 3).
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Access to Community-Based Programs: The bill allows for the coverage of evidence-based, community-based lifestyle counseling programs approved by the Secretary (Section 3).
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Expanded Medication Coverage: Medicare Part D coverage would be adjusted to include drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight and have one or more related comorbidities (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Requirement for Physician Coordination: For certain providers or lifestyle programs to be covered, the therapy must be furnished upon a referral from and in coordination with a physician or primary care practitioner (Section 3).
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Delayed Medication Coverage: The amendments regarding Medicare Part D coverage for obesity medications and weight loss management will not apply until plan years beginning at least 2 years after the Act is enacted (Section 4).
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 retired people be better off under this? — The bill enhances Medicare benefits, which directly benefits the retiree population through improved obesity care. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The bill specifically targets obesity treatment and medication coverage for Medicare beneficiaries, who are primarily seniors.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill expands the types of providers and services covered under Medicare to treat obesity. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands Medicare coverage to include obesity treatments and behavioral therapies. Does this lower the price of prescription medicines? — By including obesity medications in Part D coverage, it improves accessibility for Medicare beneficiaries.
- 2/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/5/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/9/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/5/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 17 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.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Shelley CapitoRepublican · West Virginia
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Thomas TillisRepublican · North Carolina
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia