Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025
Key claim: The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025 would expand Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services beyond diabetes and kidney disease to include obesity, eating disorders, cancer, and HIV/AIDS, and broaden eligible referral providers to include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists.
Abstract
(HR6199 · 119th Congress) Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025 This bill expands Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy services. Currently, Medicare covers such services for individuals with diabetes or kidney disease under certain circumstances; such services must also be provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional pursuant to a physician referral. The bill extends coverage to individuals with other diseases and conditions, including obesity, eating disorders, cancer, and HIV/AIDS; such services may also be referred by a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, or (for eating disorders) a clinical psychologist. Latest action (2025-11-20): Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Why this matters
Medical nutrition therapy is a covered Medicare benefit with a narrow scope; expanding it to obesity, eating disorders, cancer, and HIV/AIDS would meaningfully broaden which beneficiaries can access dietitian services at Medicare’s expense. Adding PAs, NPs, and clinical nurse specialists as eligible referral sources also removes a common access bottleneck in primary care. If enacted, the change would affect what services Medicare pays for and how patients reach them.