WHAT THE LAW DOINCongress, in plain words

H.R. 5439 · 119th Congress

Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act

IntroducedHealth
IntroducedSep 17, 2025
Passed HouseNot yet
Passed SenateNot yet
To PresidentNot yet
Became lawNot yet

What it does

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Medically Tailored Home-Delivered Meals Program Pilot Act

This bill requires the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to establish a temporary program through which certain Medicare beneficiaries with diet-impacted diseases may receive medically tailored meals at home to reduce their rate of hospital readmissions.

Specifically, the CMS must select, upon application, at least 40 hospitals to participate in a six-year program to deliver medically tailored meals to qualifying individuals' homes. Participating hospitals must meet specified program integrity and quality of care metrics and certify that they are able to provide the required meals and associated medical nutrition therapy. Hospitals must have a physician, registered dietitian or nutrition professional, advanced practice nurse, or clinical social worker screen inpatients upon discharge from the hospital and every 12 weeks thereafter to determine whether these individuals qualify for the meal program.

In order to qualify for the program, individuals must have a diet-impacted disease (e.g., kidney disease), live at home, not be receiving extended care services or hospice care, be limited with respect to at least two activities of daily living, and meet any other criteria for high-risk readmissions (as determined by the CMS).

Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in House, Sep 17, 2025).

Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.

What has happened

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  1. 2026-09-16Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by the Yeas and Nays: 39 - 0.House committee actions
  2. 2026-09-16Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session HeldHouse committee actions
  3. 2025-09-17Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.House floor actions
  4. 2025-09-17Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress
  5. 2025-09-17Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H4374-4375)Library of Congress
  6. 2025-09-17Introduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

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Cosponsors

  • Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis R-FL-12
  • Rep. Suzanne Bonamici D-OR-1
  • Rep. Salud O. Carbajal D-CA-24
  • Rep. André Carson D-IN-7
  • Rep. Yvette D. Clarke D-NY-9
  • Rep. Steve Cohen D-TN-9
  • Rep. Sharice Davids D-KS-3
  • Rep. Suzan K. DelBene D-WA-1
  • Rep. Maxine Dexter D-OR-3
  • Rep. Dwight Evans D-PA-3
  • Rep. Brian K. Fitzpatrick R-PA-1
  • Rep. Andrew R. Garbarino R-NY-2
  • Rep. Daniel S. Goldman D-NY-10
  • Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove D-CA-37
  • Rep. Marcy Kaptur D-OH-9
  • Rep. Timothy M. Kennedy D-NY-26
  • Rep. Michael Lawler R-NY-17
  • Rep. Ted Lieu D-CA-36
  • Rep. Stephen F. Lynch D-MA-8
  • Rep. Nicole Malliotakis R-NY-11
  • Rep. Doris O. Matsui D-CA-7
  • Rep. Betty McCollum D-MN-4
  • Rep. Gwen Moore D-WI-4
  • Rep. Seth Moulton D-MA-6
  • Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton D-DC-At Large
  • Rep. Chellie Pingree D-ME-1
  • Rep. Emily Randall D-WA-6
  • Rep. Jamie Raskin D-MD-8
  • Rep. Deborah K. Ross D-NC-2
  • Rep. Terri A. Sewell D-AL-7
  • Rep. Mike Thompson D-CA-4
  • Rep. Rashida Tlaib D-MI-12
  • Rep. Ritchie Torres D-NY-15
  • Rep. Eugene Simon Vindman D-VA-7
  • Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman D-NJ-12
  • Rep. Nikema Williams D-GA-5