Federal bill establishes Medicare pilot program to provide medically tailored home-delivered meals for high-risk patients

Original title: Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act

Last action · September 16, 2026: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.Sponsors: James McGovern and 34 others

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What This Bill Would Do

The bill establishes a 6-year Medicare pilot program requiring at least 40 selected hospitals to provide s and medical nutrition therapy to certain high-risk, discharged inpatients without cost-sharing. Participating hospitals must screen inpatients, provide at least two meals daily meeting two-thirds of daily nutritional needs for qualified individuals, and submit data to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Why it matters

Changes post-discharge support for Medicare beneficiaries with diet-impacted conditions by funding home-delivered meals directly from the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund while offsetting costs through reductions in general hospital payments under section 1886(d).

Who It Would Affect

Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Qualified Medicare Beneficiaries

Individuals with diet-impacted diseases receive medically tailored home-delivered meals and medical nutrition therapy without cost-sharing.

Directly affected

Selected Hospitals

Participating hospitals must provide staffing, screening, meal preparation and delivery, and data submission to the Secretary.

Directly affected

Subsection (d) Hospitals

General hospitals experience payment reductions under section 1886(d) to offset the total cost of the pilot program.

Key Facts

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is eligible to receive medically tailored meals under this program?

A qualified individual must be entitled to Medicare Part A, not receive similar benefits from other state or federal programs, have a diet-impacted disease (such as kidney disease, heart failure, diabetes, or COPD), live at home, not be eligible for extended care services or hospice care, and be limited in at least two .

Will participating Medicare beneficiaries have to pay out-of-pocket for these meals?

No. Items and services provided under the program are delivered without the application of deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or other cost-sharing.

How are hospitals selected for participation?

The Secretary must select at least 40 eligible hospitals by June 30, 2027, that submit an application, attest to having service delivery capacity, and (for subsection (d) hospitals) maintain an average of at least 3 stars for overall hospital quality on CMS websites for the prior two fiscal years.

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Where This Stands

Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.

Procedural history

5 actions

Sep 16, 2026HouseCommittee
Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.
Sep 16, 2026House
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Sep 17, 2025HouseCommittee
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Sep 17, 2025Library of Congress
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4374-4375)
Sep 17, 2025HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House

Version history

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