Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act of 2025
Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act of 2025 - Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would require four major federal health insurance programs—Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP (children's health insurance), and federal employee health benefits—to cover medical foods and related equipment and supplies. Medical foods are specially formulated nutritional products prescribed by doctors for people with specific digestive or metabolic disorders who cannot get adequate nutrition from regular food. **Who It Affects** The bill would directly benefit people enrolled in these federal insurance programs who have conditions requiring specialized medical nutrition, such as certain metabolic disorders or digestive diseases.
It would also affect insurance program administrators and healthcare providers involved in prescribing and dispensing these products. **Current Status** The bill (HR 5684) was introduced by Rep. James McGovern (D-MA) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full House of Representatives.
CRS Official Summary
Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act of 2025This bill expands coverage under Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program to include medically necessary food and associated equipment and supplies.The bill defines medically necessary food as specially formulated and processed products (e.g., nutritional formulas) prescribed by health care practitioners for individuals who have special dietary requirements because of certain digestive or metabolic disorders or conditions.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Oversight and Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.