Contact Congress about S. 3297: Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023

Medicare would cover nutrition counseling for more health problems. More types of clinicians could refer patients. The change would start two years after the bill becomes law.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023 is a Senate bill senate Consideration.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people on Medicare who have long-term health problems that may improve with nutrition counseling. It also affects dietitians and other nutrition professionals because more patients could qualify for their services. It affects clinicians who refer patients, because more types of providers could order the service. Medicare officials and contractors would need to apply the new coverage rules.

Why this matters: Many Medicare patients live with diseases that diet can affect, but Medicare does not now cover nutrition counseling for many of those conditions. This bill could help more patients get professional diet advice before problems get worse. It could also make referrals easier in places where doctors are hard to find. The tradeoff is cost uncertainty, because covering more services could raise Medicare spending in the short term.

Key provisions in S. 3297

• Medicare would cover nutrition counseling for many more health problems. The list includes prediabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, many digestive diseases, HIV, AIDS, and heart disease.
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services could add more covered diseases or conditions. This could happen for unintended weight loss, for medically needed care backed by U.S. Preventive Services Task Force advice, or for care that follows accepted medical guidelines or professional protocols.
• More health workers could order Medicare-covered nutrition counseling. The bill adds physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurse specialists, and it lets clinical psychologists order it for eating disorders.
• Some kidney disease services would still be left out. Medicare would not cover nutrition therapy for kidney disease under this benefit when the patient already gets maintenance dialysis through Medicare’s End-Stage Renal Disease program.
• Medicare would not pay for nutrition counseling for just any condition. The service would have to be for a listed disease or condition, or for one the Secretary later approves.

How Modern Action helps you take action on S. 3297

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about S. 3297

What is S. 3297?

Medicare would cover nutrition counseling for more health problems. More types of clinicians could refer patients. The change would start two years after the bill becomes law.

How do I support or oppose S. 3297?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about S. 3297?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on S. 3297?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.