HNC Statement on Medicare Memo to Hospitals on following Dietary Guidelines for Americans
May 11, 2026
On March 30, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum to hospital and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) providers entitled “Hospital Nutrition Service Obligations in Light of Updated Federal Nutrition Guidelines.” The memo encourages hospitals to follow the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). HNC agrees with CMS that nutrition is important for general patient health and recovery. We are concerned about the prevalence of malnutrition in hospitals and would like to underscore the importance of customizing patient nutrition needs, especially while hospitalized, if they have difficulties chewing, swallowing, or are otherwise compromised to safely eat conventional foods. Patients may require specialized sole source or supplemental nutrition to meet their diet and hydration needs that could come in the form of a tube feeding, medical food, and/or oral nutrition supplements. Hospitals recognize patient rights include therapeutic nutrition care that would supersede standard nutrition criteria if that individual has specialized nutrition needs. We support the statement issued by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) found here.