Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2021
- Last Action
- 3/4/2021
Actions
- 2021-03-04Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 2021-03-04Introduced in Senate
CRS Summary
As of 2021-03-04 (00)
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2021
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.
Cosponsors (20)
- Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
- Shelley Capito (R-WV)
- Christopher Coons (D-DE)
- Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
- Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
- Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS)
- Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)
- Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ)
- Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
- Kevin Cramer (R-ND)
- Thomas Tillis (R-NC)
- Martin Heinrich (D-NM)
- John Hoeven (R-ND)
- Todd Young (R-IN)
- Ben Luján (D-NM)
- Charles Grassley (R-IA)
- John Boozman (R-AR)
- Roger Wicker (R-MS)
- Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Subjects
- Congressional oversight
- Health care coverage and access
- Health personnel
- Health promotion and preventive care
- Medical research
- Medicare
- Mental health
- Nutrition and diet
- Physical fitness and lifestyle
- Prescription drugs
Sourced from Congress.gov (public domain).
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.