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Every voice matters — make sure your elected official hears you!

1. Pick a focus area. We advocate for access to nutritious food, prevention and management of chronic disease, and for insurance to cover nutrition services.

2. Browse active campaigns. Our shed light on the issues that affect you and how you can take action.

3. Send your message. Use our action center to send letters directly to your elected officials.

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Priority Issue: Medicare Should Cover Lifestyle Interventions and Anti-Obesity Medications

Tell Congress that insurance coverage for obesity treatment must include lifestyle interventions in addition to anti-obesity medications! The bipartisan, bicameral Treat and Reduce Obesity Act would:

• expand the providers and programs that could deliver intensive behavioral counseling within Medicare Part B
• provide coverage for anti-obesity medications in Medicare Part D

Urge your elected officials to support this bill with both Part B and Part D components to cover the costs of counseling and medications, improve patient outcomes and enhance health care access.

Take Action

Priority Issue: Medicare Should Cover More Nutrition Services

The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act would help more people receive nutrition services from registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and qualified practitioners by covering the costs of MNT for a wider range of conditions such as prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, malnutrition, eating disorders, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases (including celiac disease), HIV/AIDS, cardiovascular disease and illnesses related to unintentional weight loss — as well as any other health condition as determined by the Secretary of Health.

Introduced by Senators Susan Collins (Maine) and Gary Peters (Mich.) along with Representatives Robin Kelly (Ill.) and Jen Kiggans (Virginia), the bill also allows nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists and psychologists to refer their patients for medical nutrition therapy. This is particularly crucial for minority populations who have historically faced health disparities due socioeconomic inequality, limited healthcare access, and reduced availability of healthy foods and safe places for physical activity.

Focus Areas:

Access to Nutritious Foods

Systematic and sustained action is needed to achieve food and nutrition security and that effective policy, system and environmental changes can help realize this goal in the U.S. and abroad.

Safe, healthful food and clean water is a fundamental right that directly impacts the health and well-being of every person in every community. It is essential for proper growth, development and disease prevention, while clean water is a fundamental necessity for hydration and the proper functioning of bodily systems, as well as safeguarding against waterborne diseases. The Academy is strongly committed to improving the nation’s access to safe and nutritious food and water and advancing sustainable nutrition and resilient food systems through systematic and sustained action. We advocate for legislation and policies that address disparities in access, ensuring that all communities have equal rights to essential resources—not only a matter of ethical responsibility, but also a crucial investment in the long-term health and prosperity of every person in society.

Disease Prevention and Management

Programs and policies that enhance population health and advance health equity are critical to promoting well-being and wellness and preventing disease throughout the life cycle.

Nutrition not only powerfully impacts our health and well-being, but plays a profound role in preventing and managing diseases and conditions. We support legislation and nutrition policies that prioritize preventive measures that can significantly reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, as well as help individuals better manage chronic conditions through scientifically sound interventions such as Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). The Academy is strongly committed to increasing equitable access to healthful food, nutrition services and environments that promote healthful eating and physical activity to improve population health and wellness at all stages of life. We support policies that acknowledge the economic implications of chronic diseases and emphasize the potential cost savings associated with preventing and managing these conditions.

Cover Nutrition Services

It is vital to ensure everyone has continuous, consistent, timely, affordable and transparent access to safe and effective nutrition services, provided by registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs), to improve their health and prevent, treat and manage health conditions and disease across the life cycle.

Nutrition interventions like Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) help keep people healthy, prevent and treat a variety of chronic diseases, and can reduce long-term healthcare costs. The Academy is strongly committed to improving the nation’s access to and utilization of effective nutrition and dietetics care, achieving health equity, identifying and treating malnutrition, and including RDNs and NDTRs on the interdisciplinary health care team. We advocate for the expansion of health insurance coverage to include a broader range of nutrition services, promoting consistent, timely, affordable, and transparent access to safe and effective nutrition services delivered by qualified nutrition professionals.