1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Medical Nutrition Equity Act of 2017 . 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Specialized food is often medically necessary for the safe and effective management of many digestive and inherited metabolic disorders that impact digestion, absorption, and metabolism of nutrients. (2) Although medically necessary food is essential for patients, it is often expensive and not uniformly reimbursed by health insurance, leaving many families with an insurmountable financial burden. (3) As a result, many patients who cannot afford medically necessary food may experience adverse health consequences from suboptimal disease management, including hospitalization, intellectual impairment, behavioral dysfunction, inadequate growth, nutrient deficiencies, and even death. 3. Coverage of medically necessary food and vitamins for digestive and inherited metabolic disorders under Federal health programs and private health insurance (a) Coverage under the Medicare program (1) Medically necessary food (A) In general Section 1861(s)(2) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395x(s)(2) ) is amended— (i) in subparagraph (FF), by striking and at the end; (ii) in subparagraph (GG), by inserting and at the end; and (iii) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (HH) medically necessary food (as defined in subsection (jjj)) and the medical equipment and supplies necessary to administer such food (other than medical equipment and supplies described in subsection (n))