Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley and Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker have introduced the Medical Foods and Formulas Access Act, a bipartisan bill designed to improve access to medically necessary nutrition for people with digestive or inherited metabolic disorders.
The legislation would require Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program to cover specialized formulas, vitamins, amino acids and other approved medical foods prescribed for specific gastrointestinal or metabolic conditions. It also ensures continued state and federal protections for coverage that already exists.
Grassley said patients with conditions such as cystic fibrosis or Crohn’s disease rely on specialized nutrition to prevent serious health complications, including stunted growth or life-threatening outcomes. He emphasized that the bill would guarantee consistent coverage for individuals whose medical treatment depends on these products.
Wicker noted that timely access to medical food is essential for managing metabolic disorders and said the bill would ensure that government health programs provide coverage when nutrition is required as part of treatment.
Sens. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island have joined as cosponsors. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. House by Reps. John Rutherford of Florida, Debbie Dingell of Michigan and Jim McGovern of Massachusetts.
The full text of the legislation can be found below;
medical_foods_and_formulas_access_act
