[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 90 (Tuesday, June 18, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S6410]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DeWINE:
  S. 1882. A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, 
to include medical foods as a specific item for which coverage may be 
provided under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; to the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs.


                       Medical Foods Legislation

 Mr. DeWINE. Mr. President, I introduce legislation that will 
clarify the ability of fee-for-service plans in the Federal Employees 
Health Benefit Program [FEHBP] to provide coverage for medical foods.
  Medical foods are a liquid formula given to a patient under the 
supervision of a doctor in cases where patients cannot take solid foods 
to meet their nutritional needs. Medical foods are often used for 
patients with AIDS or patients undergoing chemotherapy and have 
difficulty taking solid foods.
  So this bill would amend title 5 of the United States Code to include 
medical foods specifically in the list of items and services that can 
be covered by fee-for-service plans serving FEHBP beneficiaries. This 
legislation would not mandate coverage of medical foods. It simply 
clarifies that fee-for-service plans can provide coverage for medical 
foods.

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