Skip to main content
S 595 116th Congress Senate

Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019

Official title: A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for the coordination of programs to prevent and treat obesity, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 28, 2019 Introduced by: Cassidy, Bill Republican · Louisiana See on congress.gov
Health Congressional oversightHealth care coverage and accessHealth personnelHealth promotion and preventive care
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Medical researchMedicareMental healthNutrition and dietPhysical fitness and lifestylePrescription drugs
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 28, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Feb 28, 2019
Introduced in Senate
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Latest action February 28, 2019

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019

This bill expands Medicare coverage of intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. Specifically, the bill allows coverage for therapy that is provided by (1) a physician who is not a primary care physician; or (2) other health care providers (e.g., physician assistants and nurse practitioners) and approved counseling programs, if provided upon a referral from, and in coordination with, a physician or primary care practitioner. Currently, such therapy is covered only if provided by a primary care practitioner.

The bill also allows coverage under Medicare's prescription drug benefit of drugs used for the treatment of obesity or for weight loss management for individuals who are overweight.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 595: Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-595/
MLA
"S. 595: Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-595/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 595, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-595/.
Markdown link
[S. 595: Treat and Reduce Obesity Act of 2019](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-S-595/)
Report a problem