The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Defeat Malnutrition Today, and the Healthcare Nutrition Council jointly presented a virtual Congressional Briefing on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 in conjunction with the Congressional Hunger Caucus titled “Older Adult Nutrition Security: Next Steps for Congress.” The special guest was Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) who gave opening remarks on the importance of older adult nutrition.
Objectives Included:
• Identify food security and access to nutrition care challenges for adults and older adults.
• Describe the nutrition considerations for patients with COVID-19 and lessons from hospitalization and recovery.
• Recognize programs to address malnutrition and adaptations made during the pandemic.
• Discuss the importance of nutrition in health, key legislation to improve patient access to food and nutrition services, and steps Congress can take to include nutrition provisions in future legislation.
The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act (MNT) of 2021 (S. 1536/H.R. 3108), the Medical Nutrition Equity Act (S. 2013/H.R. 3783), and the Older Americans Act were discussed as ways to improve access to nutrition products and services.
