H.R. 8391: To amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to require coverage of certain food and nutrition services under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

This bill proposes amendments to the Social Security Act that would require coverage for certain food and nutrition services under both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The main provisions of the bill include:

Changes to Medicare Coverage

Under the Medicare program:

• The bill adds "food and nutrition services" to the list of services covered. These services will be defined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• The payment structure for these services will allow Medicare to reimburse 80% of the actual charge for the services rendered.
• The new coverage will take effect 180 days after the bill is enacted.

Changes to Medicaid Coverage

For the Medicaid program, the bill includes the following changes:

• Similar to Medicare, it adds "food and nutrition services" to the list of covered services, subject to definitions set by the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
• Food and nutrition services will become a mandatory benefit, ensuring states must provide these services as part of their Medicaid programs.
• This provision will also be effective 180 days after the bill is enacted.

The intent behind the bill is to address health outcomes by ensuring access to food and nutrition services as an essential part of healthcare for individuals enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid.

Implementation Timeline

Both the provisions for Medicare and Medicaid will be implemented 180 days after the bill is officially signed into law.

Relevant Companies

• KO - The Coca-Cola Company: May be impacted as the bill could influence demand for food and beverage products, particularly those with nutrition labeling or health benefits.
• PFG - Principal Financial Group: As a provider of insurance services, this company may see shifts in demand for health insurance products due to the potential increased accessibility to nutrition services.
• MDLZ - Mondelez International: Similar to Coca-Cola, Mondelez could be impacted by changes in consumer behavior regarding snacks and nutritional food options.