H.R. 2495: Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2025

This bill, known as the Nutrition Counseling Aiding Recovery for Eating Disorders Act of 2025, aims to improve the coverage of medical nutrition therapy services for individuals diagnosed with eating disorders under the Medicare program. Key aspects of the bill include:

Provisions to Expand Coverage

The bill proposes amendments to the Social Security Act that would:

• Allow Medicare to cover medical nutrition therapy services specifically for individuals with eating disorders, beginning January 1, 2026.
• Define eating disorders using the most recent diagnostic criteria from the American Psychiatric Association.

Increased Access to Medical Nutrition Therapy

The legislation emphasizes the importance of nutrition therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment approach for eating disorders, which also includes medical, psychiatric, and therapeutic care. After the bill's implementation:

• Individuals receiving these services would be entitled to at least 13 hours of medical nutrition therapy in the first year, which includes an initial assessment and follow-up sessions.
• Subsequent years would allow for at least 4 additional hours of therapy, ensuring ongoing support and management of the disorder.

Reason for the Bill

The bill addresses the significant public health impact of eating disorders, which affect approximately 9% of the U.S. population at some point in their lives. Some key findings referenced in the bill include:

• An estimated 1.6 million to 2.1 million Medicare beneficiaries are affected by eating disorders.
• Eating disorders contribute to approximately 10,200 deaths annually in the U.S.
• Overall, the economic burden associated with eating disorders reaches over $64 billion each year due to hospitalizations, healthcare costs, and loss of productivity.

Limitations and Regulatory Oversight

The bill grants the Secretary of Health and Human Services authority to impose reasonable limitations on the provision of these services, ensuring that the implementation remains within appropriate bounds based on available healthcare resources and needs.

Relevant Companies

• UNH - UnitedHealth Group: As a major health insurance provider, changes to Medicare coverage could impact UnitedHealth's operations and financial performance.
• CNC - Centene Corporation: Also a large player in the healthcare insurance market, Centene may experience changes in claims and coverage requirements due to the bill.