Congressional Briefing: Food is Medicine in Clinical Care
Food is Medicine in Clinical Care – Congressional Briefing
December 3rd, 9-10 a.m.
Rayburn, Room 2060
This educational Hill briefing will highlight the critical role that oral nutrition supplements (ONS) and medical foods play in patient care. The program will feature clinical experts and patient advocates who rely on these products for survival and recovery. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of the patient need for these products and the importance of policies that protect access.
Briefing Content
Agenda
Open and Welcome Remarks from Members of Congress
Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-03) & Rep. Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA-08)
Definitions Background
Jessica O’Connell (Partner, Covington & Burling LLP)
Clinical Perspective
Dr. Eric Kossoff (Professor of Neurology & Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University)
Patient Perspectives
Becky Woolf (Virginia | Crohn’s Disease, ONS) & Ben Lewis (Massachusetts | HCU, Medical Foods)
Policy Perspective
Jessica O’Connell (Partner, Covington & Burling LLP)
Closing Remarks and Q/A
Key takeaways on protecting patient access to specialized nutrition.
Speaker Bios
Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-03)
GOP Doctors Caucus Co-Chair and Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Member.
Rep. Kim Schrier, MD (D-WA-08)
Congressional Doctors Caucus Co-Chair and Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee Member.
Dr. Eric Kossoff
Professor of Neurology & Pediatrics, Johns Hopkins University.
Dr. Kossoff will explain how medical foods and ONS are prescribed in treatment, with real-world clinical examples.
Becky Woolf
(Virginia | Crohn’s Disease, ONS)
Diagnosed with severe refractory Crohn’s disease at age 7 and treated with surgeries, PEN, and TPN. A longtime advocate with ImproveCareNow and current ICN Board member, Becky will share how medical nutrition has shaped her health, education, and commitment to expanding access to essential nutrition therapies.
Ben Lewis
(Massachusetts | HCU, Medical Foods)
Diagnosed with Classical Homocystinuria through Newborn Screening, Ben has relied on metabolic formula and a very low-protein diet throughout his life. He has expended considerable time and effort navigating insurance hurdles to maintain consistent and affordable access to medical foods and formula, and credits Massachusetts’ strong medical nutrition laws for supporting positive outcomes. Active in the HCU community, he highlights why medical foods are essential for long-term health.
Jessica O’Connell
Partner, Covington & Burling LLP
She will provide insight on FDA regulations and explain how medical foods and ONS differ from conventional foods and dietary supplements.
Patient Advocate Videos
Lillian Isabella (New York | PKU, Medical Foods)
Board member, National PKU Alliance
Lillian recently began her Master’s in Narrative Medicine at Columbia University. She shares how PKU management has shaped her life, education, and career path.
Kaylaa White (Virginia | Crohn’s Disease, ONS)
Diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2020 and later reclassified with Crohn’s disease in 2023, Kaylaa experienced rapid disease progression that required complete bowel rest and more than a month of total parenteral nutrition (TPN) through a PICC line. After hospitalization, she depended on medically necessary nutrition support for over a year while unable to maintain adequate oral intake. When her insurer stopped coverage and her supplier left Virginia, she encountered significant barriers to accessing the products she needed—often paying out of pocket and traveling long distances for limited availability. Now living with a permanent ostomy, Kaylaa serves as Co-Chair Elect of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s National Council of College Leaders and plays a leading role in the Color of Gastrointestinal Illnesses initiative, advocating for equitable representation of Black women with ostomies and improved access to essential medical nutrition.
Congressional Briefing Video Recording & Slide Deck
View and download the Congressional Briefing slide deck here.