H.R. 6199 — Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2025

This section states congressional findings that (1) over two-thirds of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries have two or more chronic conditions, many preventable or manageable through nutrition; (2) racial and ethnic minorities have higher rates of diabetes, prediabetes, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and obesity; (3) Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy only for beneficiaries with diabetes or renal disease, despite its broader medical necessity; and (4) medical nutrition therapy is cost-effective for treating obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, HIV, unintended weight loss in older adults, and other chronic conditions.

This section expands Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) services—counseling and interventions provided by registered dietitians or nutrition professionals to help manage diet-related conditions—beyond diabetes and kidney disease to the prevention, management, or treatment of specified diseases and conditions, including diabetes, prediabetes, renal disease (excluding individuals receiving maintenance dialysis paid under Medicare Part B), obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases (including celiac disease), HIV, AIDS, cardiovascular disease, and others specified by the Secretary related to unintentional weight loss or deemed medically necessary per U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, clinical guidelines, or protocols from registered dietitian or nutrition professional organizations. It broadens the professionals authorized to refer beneficiaries for MNT services to physicians (as defined in SSA §1861(r)(1)), physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or clinical nurse specialists (each as defined in SSA §1861(aa)(5)); or, for eating disorders, clinical psychologists (previously limited to physicians). It codifies exclusion from Medicare coverage for MNT services not furnished for a specified disease or condition. The changes apply to services furnished in years beginning 2 years after enactment.