Medicare patients would receive wider access to medical nutrition therapy under Collins’ bill

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), on Aug. 6, introduced a bipartisan bill to expand the availability of medical nutrition therapy services under the Medicare program.

Sen. Collins sponsored the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2020, S. 4504, with lead cosponsor U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) to expand access to medical nutrition therapy (MNT), which is a cost-effective component of treatment for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and other chronic conditions, according to Sen. Collins’ office.

“At a time when we are seeing many diet-related chronic conditions contribute to poor COVID-19 outcomes, medical nutrition therapy should be part of the strategy to improve disease management and prevention for America’s seniors,” said Senator Collins, chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. “Our bipartisan bill would support patients, improve health outcomes, and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.”

If enacted, S. 4504 would expand Medicare Part B coverage of outpatient MNT services for a number of currently uncovered diseases or conditions, such as prediabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, celiac disease, and HIV/AIDS, according to the text of the bill.

S. 4504 also would allow more types of providers — including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, and psychologists — to refer patients to MNT, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Collins’ office.

The measure has garnered the support of more than 30 national organizations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Diabetes Association, the Endocrine Society, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, and the National Kidney Foundation, among others.

“I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation to expand Medicare beneficiaries’ access to medical nutrition therapy,” Sen. Collins said.