Medicare finally covers eating disorder nutrition therapy—a $64B public health gap closes
S. 1971 — Nutrition CARE Act of 2025 · Filed by Maggie Hassan (D-NH) · 3 cosponsors · Introduced Jun 5, 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; this bill mandates at least 13 hours of initial assessment and treatment per year, plus 4 hours annually thereafter, furnished by registered dietitians or nutrition professionals on referral from a physician or mental health professional.
Why we flagged it
The bill's functional purpose is to expand an existing Medicare benefit (medical nutrition therapy) to a new covered condition (eating disorders). It is a straightforward healthcare coverage mandate with no apparent riders or hidden provisions.
What the text implies
- Expansion may create demand for registered dietitian services; supply constraints could delay access or create geographic disparities in care availability.
- The bill defines eating disorders by DSM-5 criteria, which may exclude some individuals with disordered eating who do not meet full diagnostic thresholds.
The full analysis lists 4 implications of this text.
Who stands to gain
registered dietitians and nutrition professionals; mental health treatment providers (referral source); healthcare systems offering eating disorder programs