Enteral Nutrition

Enteral nutrition — also known as tube feeding — is a system of delivering nutrition directly to the stomach or small intestine.

Your doctor may recommend tube feeding if you can’t receive the nutrients you need from oral feeding due to an illness or injury, but your digestive system works normally.

Feeding tubes deliver liquid nutrition directly to your stomach or small intestine. Tubes can run through your nose, mouth or the skin on your stomach.

Enteral liquid food supplements contain protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals.

Orally administered enteral supplements are not covered by Medicare Part B. But according to the Healthcare Nutrition Council, some state Medicaid programs and commercial insurance programs may cover these supplements.

Nutritional supplements are often given as medicine between meals to patients receiving enteral therapy. However, nutritional supplementation is not covered under Medicare Part B.

Finally, food thickeners, baby food, and other over-the-counter products that can be used with the enteral system aren’t covered by Medicare. Self-blended formulas aren’t covered either.