The "Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025" seeks to enhance Medicare's ability to address the growing obesity epidemic by expanding coverage for treatment and prevention services. It broadens the types of healthcare professionals and programs eligible to provide intensive behavioral therapy for obesity under Medicare Part B. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy furnished by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians, and approved community-based lifestyle counseling programs. These services would require a referral from, and coordination with, a primary care physician or practitioner. Furthermore, the legislation amends the Social Security Act to remove the current exclusion of obesity medications from Medicare Part D coverage . This change would allow Part D plans to cover prescription drugs used for obesity treatment or for weight loss management in overweight individuals with related comorbidities, effective two years after enactment. Finally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services submit regular reports to Congress. These reports will detail the implementation of the Act and provide recommendations for improved coordination among federal programs aimed at treating, reducing, and preventing obesity in adults.
The "Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2025" seeks to enhance Medicare's ability to address the growing obesity epidemic by expanding coverage for treatment and prevention services. It broadens the types of healthcare professionals and programs eligible to provide intensive behavioral therapy for obesity under Medicare Part B. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy furnished by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, registered dietitians, and approved community-based lifestyle counseling programs. These services would require a referral from, and coordination with, a primary care physician or practitioner. Furthermore, the legislation amends the Social Security Act to remove the current exclusion of obesity medications from Medicare Part D coverage . This change would allow Part D plans to cover prescription drugs used for obesity treatment or for weight loss management in overweight individuals with related comorbidities, effective two years after enactment. Finally, the bill mandates that the Secretary of Health and Human Services submit regular reports to Congress. These reports will detail the implementation of the Act and provide recommendations for improved coordination among federal programs aimed at treating, reducing, and preventing obesity in adults.