A Republican bill with 4 Democratic cosponsors · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S709)
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 Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2026 aims to expand the availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program. It seeks to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to include a wider range of diseases and conditions. The bill expands the list of conditions covered beyond just diabetes or renal disease to include things like obesity, hypertension, and cancer. It also expands the types of professionals who can provide these services, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants. This expansion is intended to make nutrition therapy a more available part of the standard of care for many chronic conditions.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The expansion of Medicare services directly benefits the senior population.
- Scored +8
Would retired people be better off under this?
Medicare-eligible retirees will have access to a broader range of nutritional therapies.
- Scored +7
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
It significantly expands coverage for medical nutrition therapy for various chronic conditions.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Expanded Disease Coverage: The bill expands the list of covered conditions to include diabetes, prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases (including Celiac disease), HIV, AIDS, and cardiovascular disease (Section 3(a)(2)(A)). This could benefit people dealing with these specific conditions by providing access to medical nutrition therapy.
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Broader Provider Options: The bill allows services to be furnished by a variety of professionals, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and clinical psychologists for eating disorders (Section 3(a)(2)(A)(ii)). This expands the pool of people who can provide these services to patients.
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Flexibility for Other Conditions: The bill allows for the Secretary to determine that services are medically necessary for other conditions, such as those relating to unintentional weight loss (Section 3(a)(2)(B)(4)(N)). This could provide benefits to individuals with specific medical needs not explicitly listed.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Delayed Implementation: The amendments to the law will not apply to items and services furnished until two years after the date the Act is enacted (Section 3(c)). This means the expanded benefits will not be available to people immediately.
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Exclusion for Dialysis Patients: The bill specifies that medical nutrition therapy terms shall not include services furnished for the prevention, management, or treatment of a renal disease if the individual is receiving maintenance dialysis for which payment is made under section 1881 (Section 3(a)(2)(A)(iii)).
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? — Medicare-eligible retirees will have access to a broader range of nutritional therapies. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The expansion of Medicare services directly benefits the senior population.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — It significantly expands coverage for medical nutrition therapy for various chronic conditions. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill expands the scope of covered services under Medicare Part B.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill addresses conditions that disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minority backgrounds.
- 7/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/19/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/13/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/26/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S709)
- 1 Cosponsor 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.
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia