The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a Quality & Safety Special Alert Memo reminding hospitals and critical access hospital providers of their responsibilities for patient food and nutrition services under existing Medicare Conditions of Participation.
The memo follows the release of the 2025 -2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and directs hospitals to review and update their menus and nutrition practices to better align with current federal recommendations.
Medicare already requires hospitals to provide meals that meet patient nutritional needs under the oversight of a qualified dietitian.
The updated guidelines emphasize diet quality, including limiting highly processed food, sugary drinks and refined carbohydrates, while encouraging whole and minimally processed foods.
This update does not create new requirements but reinforces existing expectations. Hospitals that do not meet current standards may still face enforcement actions under existing rules. The Cornerstone Group, the MHA’s Washington, D.C.-based government affairs representation, provided an additional analysis on the requirements.
Hospitals are encouraged to evaluate their current nutrition practices and make updates as appropriate while continuing to meet the needs of individual patients.
Members with questions may contact Lenise Freeman at the MHA.