Senate Bill 3001, presented to the Senate Committee on Health & Human Services, would permit Medicaid managed‑care organizations to offer medical nutrition counseling and instruction as an in‑lieu‑of service for adult Medicaid beneficiaries with qualifying chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and eating disorders.

Sponsor and purpose: Chair Kolkhorst (bill sponsor in the hearing) framed the bill as a companion to a House measure (House Bill 26) designed to expand access to nutrition services that can prevent or better manage chronic disease. The bill would allow MCOs to use medically appropriate nutrition counseling — delivered by licensed dietitians or registered dietitians — as a replacement for or complement to existing state plan services where cost‑effective and clinically appropriate.

Witness testimony: Pediatricians, nutritionists and food‑bank representatives supported the bill and urged broader flexibility. Dr. Lauren Gamble of the Texas Pediatric Society said diabetes and poor nutrition drive chronic disease and recommended allowing time‑limited nutritionally tailored interventions in addition to counseling. Carolina Cano of the Houston Food Bank and Holly Evelsizer of the Texas Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics urged policymakers to permit medically tailored meals or other limited food supports where education alone cannot change outcomes. “Nutrition education is essential, but without the access to the right foods, its impact is limited,” Cano said.

Implementation notes and evidence: Witnesses emphasized using licensed dietitians (registered and licensed dietitians) for medical nutrition therapy and cited evidence that medically supervised nutrition counseling improves outcomes and reduces total cost of care. The bill does not require a state plan amendment because CMS authorizes ILOS benefits for Medicaid managed care when they are cost‑effective alternatives to state plan services.

Outcome: Committee received invited and public testimony and left the bill pending. Witnesses encouraged an amendment to explicitly allow medically tailored meals and other temporary nutrition interventions as in‑lieu‑of services where clinically appropriate and cost‑effective.