Bill > S595

Introduced Session

A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coordination of programs to prevent and treat obesity, and for other purposes. This bill expands Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy that is provided by (1) a physician who is not a primary care physician; or (2) other health care providers (e.g., physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and approved counseling programs, if provided upon a referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner. Currently, such therapy is covered only if provided by a primary care practitioner. The bill also allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Bill Cassidy (R)*,  Marsha Blackburn (R),  Richard Burr (R),  Shelley Moore Capito (R),  Tom Carper (D),  Chris Coons (D),  Kevin Cramer (R),  Joni Ernst (R),  Martin Heinrich (D),  Cindy Hyde-Smith (R),  Amy Klobuchar (D),  Lisa Murkowski (R),  Pat Roberts (R),  Jeanne Shaheen (D),  Kyrsten Sinema (I),  Thom Tillis (R),  Roger Wicker (R),  Todd Young (R), 

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance. (on 02/28/2019)

Official Document