[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 46 (Thursday, April 17, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E696]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page E696]]



                 MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY ACT OF 1997

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                          HON. JOHN E. ENSIGN

                               of nevada

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 1997

  Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill that will 
contribute to the improved health and well-being of many Americans. The 
symptoms and complications related to diseases such as cancer, heart 
disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and hypertension could be 
significantly diminished by a change in lifestyle brought about with 
the help of medical nutrition therapy. Medical nutrition therapy is a 
service provided by a registered dietitian (RD) or nutrition 
professional that entails counseling in diet, drug interaction, vitamin 
therapy, and physical activity. It can improve the quality of life of 
seriously ill patients while saving health care dollars by speeding 
recovery, reducing the incidence of medical complications, lowering the 
number and length of hospital stays, and decreasing the need for drug 
and surgery treatments. Currently, this treatment is not covered by 
Medicare, thereby discouraging those who do not want to pay for it out-
of-pocket from receiving it.
  Today, I am introducing the Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 
1997 with Congressman Jose Serrano and Congresswoman Nancy Johnson and 
98 cosponsors. This bill will provide Medicare coverage for medical 
nutrition therapy by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional 
upon the referral of a physician. My colleagues and I have drafted this 
bill with the intention of changing what is currently a sick care 
system, which only pays for care when people get sick and sicker, to a 
health care system which pays to keep people as healthy as possible. It 
is my hope that this bill will help to save Medicare, and most 
importantly, to save lives.
  We all know we should not wait until we hear a crunching sound under 
the hood of a car before going in for an oil change. Medicare is paying 
for the health care equivalent of rebuilding engines, but won't pay for 
the oil change to prevent it.

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