Medical Foods Equity Act of 2011

Bill: 112-hr-1311
Sponsor: Rep. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI-2]
Introduced: 2011-04-01 in the House
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Child health
Digestive and metabolic diseases
Food assistance and relief
Health care costs and insurance
Health care coverage and access
Medicare
Nutrition and diet
Poverty and welfare assistance

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: 
Medical Foods Equity Act of 2011 - Amends titles XVIII (Medicare), XIX (Medicaid), and XXI (Children's Health Insurance Program) (CHIP, formerly known as SCHIP) of the Social Security Act to include coverage of: (1) medically necessary food and food modified to be low protein that is formulated to be consumed or administered under the supervision of a physician and the medical equipment and supplies necessary to administer such food; and (2) pharmacological doses of vitamins and amino acids used for the treatment of inborn errors of metabolism. Applies such coverage requirements to the TRICARE program (military health care).
 
Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the Public Health Service Act, and the Internal Revenue Code to require health plans to provide coverage of such food, vitamins, and amino acids.
 
Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to determine the minimum yearly coverage for all health insurance plans based upon the expanded coverage provided by this Act. Authorizes the Secretary to establish age-specific minimum levels of coverage. Declares that the minimum yearly coverage determined by the Secretary shall not preempt any state standards that require a higher minimum yearly coverage level for the same services and benefits.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2011-05-18
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
action_date: 2011-04-15
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2011-04-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Armed Services, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-04-01
text: Introduced in House