This bill would add a new program to Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act called the "Nutrition Education and Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative." It directs the HHS Secretary (through HRSA) to support federally qualified health centers in adding and expanding evidence-based nutrition education, dietary counseling, and related workforce training. The bill lists specific allowed uses of funds, including patient-centered nutrition services, integrating nutrition into chronic disease care, training providers, building interdisciplinary care teams (for example, registered dietitians and community health workers), creating culturally and linguistically appropriate materials, and evaluating clinical and cost outcomes. Health centers may partner with academic medical centers or medical schools. Awards must prioritize centers serving populations with high rates of diet-related chronic disease, food insecurity, or nutrition-related disparities. Funds must supplement, not replace, other funding. The Secretary must report to Congress starting three years after enactment and annually through fiscal year 2031 on fund use, patient outcomes, workforce training, and estimated cost savings.
The bill allows use of existing funds made available under section 10503(a)(1) of the Affordable Care Act to make grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements and to provide technical assistance. The bill does not set dollar amounts or a new appropriation. No publicly available information on total costs or detailed budgetary effects is included in the bill text.
No publicly available information.
No publicly available information.