UPDATE: Senate Bill Would Add Nutrition Services for Older Patients with Eating Disorders

A bipartisan bill, the Nutrition CARE Act, introduced in early October, would amend Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to allow registered clinicians, dietitians, nutrition specialists, and mental health professionals to provide medical nutrition services to Medicare beneficiaries with eating disorders. The expanded services would include 13 hours of nutrition therapy services to individuals receiving Medicare benefits, including a one-hour initial assessment, and 12 hours of reassessment and intervention. Four additional hours of medical nutrition therapy would then be available during each following year. U.S. Senators Margaret Hassan (D-NH) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the bill, which was referred to the Finance Committee.