Takac bill to equip doctors with better nutrition guidance wins House approval
Rep. Paul Takac November 17, 2025 | 4:58 PM
HARRISBURG, Nov. 17 – Recognizing the critical role nutrition plays in preventing and managing chronic disease and strengthening rural health efforts, the Pennsylvania House today passed H.B. 1980 with bipartisan support, announced its prime sponsor, state Rep. Paul Takac, D-Centre.
Takac said H.B. 1980 would require physicians licensed in Pennsylvania to complete one hour of continuing medical education in nutrition during each two-year licensing period, with that hour included within the existing 100-hour CME requirement. The modest, targeted change is designed to keep clinicians up to date with rapidly evolving evidence-based nutrition science while preserving the majority of CME time for specialty training.
“Proper nutrition is the cornerstone of preventative medicine,” Takac said. “Conditions such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease are closely tied to diet, yet many physicians receive only limited nutrition education in medical school and may not pursue further training unless prompted. This is exacerbated by the flood of misleading and harmful nutrition advice online, with social media only amplifying the danger.
“House Bill 1980 makes a small, practical change that helps doctors offer better, more holistic care to their patients.”
Takac noted that improved nutrition education will strengthen clinical counseling, support preventive care and enhance Pennsylvania’s eligibility for federal Rural Health Transformation Program funding to help rural communities. He added that the program’s $50 billion in federal funding is competitive, and states that demonstrate practical, evidence-based reforms will be better positioned to secure those resources.
“This is a practical step that benefits patients, supports clinicians and furthers public-health goals across the commonwealth,” Takac added.
The bill now heads to the state Senate for consideration.