US SB1971

Amends Medicare Part B to cover medical nutrition therapy services for beneficiaries with eating disorders beginning January 1, 2026, with eating disorders defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Requires services to be provided by registered dietitians or nutrition professionals and furnished pursuant to a referral from a physician, psychologist, or other authorized mental health professional

Guarantees 13 hours of coverage in the first year (1-hour initial assessment plus 12 hours of reassessment and intervention) and at least 4 hours in each subsequent year

Addresses a gap in Medicare coverage that currently excludes outpatient medical nutrition therapy for eating disorders, despite covering other components of eating disorder treatment

Targets an estimated 1.6 to 2.1 million Medicare Part B beneficiaries affected by eating disorders, which cause approximately 10,200 deaths annually and cost $64.7 billion per year economically