Medicare finally covers eating disorder nutrition therapy—a $64B public health gap closes
H.R. 2495 — Nutrition CARE Act of 2025 · Filed by Judy Chu (D-CA) · 46 cosponsors · Introduced Mar 31, 2025 · Referred to committee
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What it does
This bill expands Medicare coverage to include medical nutrition therapy (counseling by registered dietitians) for beneficiaries with eating disorders, starting January 1, 2026. Currently, Medicare does not cover outpatient nutrition counseling for eating disorders. The bill mandates at least 13 hours of services in the first year (including a 1-hour initial assessment and 12 hours of follow-up) and 4 hours annually thereafter, with the Secretary of Health and Human Services able to set additional reasonable limits.
Why we flagged it
The bill's primary function is to expand an existing federal health insurance program (Medicare) to cover a previously uncovered mental health treatment modality. This is straightforward healthcare policy, not a tax provision, appropriations rider, or commemorative measure.
What the text implies
- Expansion of Medicare coverage for eating disorders may create demand for registered dietitian services, potentially increasing wait times or requiring workforce expansion in nutrition therapy.
- The bill defines eating disorders by DSM-5 criteria, which may exclude some individuals with disordered eating patterns that do not meet formal diagnostic thresholds, creating a coverage boundary.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
registered dietitian and nutrition therapy providers; mental health treatment facilities offering nutrition services; healthcare systems with eating disorder programs