Why Medicare Coverage for Health & Wellness Coaching Is a Milestone for NBC-HWCs Like Me

When I saw that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) had proposed Medicare payment for Health & Well-Being Coaching, I was excited. But more than that, I found myself reflecting on the path that led me here because, honestly, if you had told me 10 years ago that I would become a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, I probably wouldn't have believed you.

This proposal isn't just another healthcare policy update. It represents something I've spent my entire career believing in…

Helping people live healthier lives by removing barriers,

meeting them where they are, and supporting lasting change.

While the proposal is still open for public comment and nothing is final yet, it feels like an important step toward recognizing that prevention and behavior change deserve a place alongside traditional medical care.

My Career Started With People, Not Health Coaching

People are sometimes surprised to learn that I didn't start my career in health coaching. I've spent more than a decade working in the nonprofit sector, and although my job titles have changed over the years, my purpose hasn't. I've been drawn to work that helps people navigate systems that can often feel overwhelming and confusing.

I've worked with families trying to access healthcare, food resources, housing support, interpretation services, transportation, and community programs. I've partnered with healthcare providers, schools, local organizations, and government agencies because I've seen firsthand how many obstacles people face before they can even begin focusing on their health. Sometimes the biggest barrier isn't a lack of motivation. It's not having childcare, reliable transportation, someone who speaks your language, or simply having enough time and emotional energy after working multiple jobs and caring for your family.

That work taught me something I'll never forget. Most people don't need someone to tell them they should make healthier choices. They already know that. What they need is support, encouragement, and someone willing to walk alongside them while they figure out how to make those changes work within the reality of their own lives.

I Realized I Had Been Coaching All Along

Looking back, I think I was practicing many of the principles of health coaching long before I ever knew it was an actual profession.

I spent years listening more than talking, asking questions instead of making assumptions, helping people identify barriers, and working together to find solutions that made sense for them. I loved seeing people recognize strengths they didn't know they had or watching someone gain the confidence to take the next step toward a goal they once thought was impossible.

When I eventually discovered health and wellness coaching, everything clicked.

It felt like I had finally found a profession that perfectly aligned with the work I was already doing. Becoming an ACE Certified Health Coach and later earning my National Board Certification wasn't about collecting another credential. It was about expanding my ability to help people in a way that felt aligned with who I already was.

Why I'm So Passionate About Behavior Change

One of the biggest lessons I've learned throughout my career is that information alone rarely changes behavior.

Most people already know they're supposed to drink more water, move their bodies, get enough sleep, or eat more fruits and vegetables. The challenge usually isn't knowing what to do. It's trying to make those changes while balancing work, raising children, caring for aging parents, managing chronic conditions, dealing with financial stress, or simply making it through another busy week.

That's why I love health coaching so much.

Health coaching isn't about telling someone what to do. It's about creating a space where people feel heard. It's about asking meaningful questions, helping someone reconnect with what matters most to them, and supporting them as they build confidence to create changes that actually fit their life instead of someone else's idea of what health should look like.

As someone who is professionally trained in Motivational Interviewing, I've seen how powerful it is when people feel empowered instead of judged. Lasting change almost always comes from within, and sometimes all someone needs is another person who believes they're capable of getting there.

Every Chapter of My Career Has Led Me Here

When I step back and look at everything I do now, it probably seems like I wear a lot of different hats.

I work in nonprofit leadership. I'm a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach. I facilitate sound baths, teach Yoga Nidra, practice Reiki, and spend a lot of my free time reading research about health, behavior change, and wellness.

But to me, none of those things feel disconnected.

They're all different ways of supporting the same mission.

Whether I'm helping a family access resources, coaching someone through a health goal, creating a calming space during a sound bath, or guiding someone through Yoga Nidra, I'm trying to help people reconnect with themselves and remove whatever barriers are keeping them from living healthier, more fulfilling lives.

The tools may be different, but the heart behind the work has always been the same.

Why This CMS Proposal Gives Me Hope

That's why this proposal feels like so much more than reimbursement.

To me, it's recognition that prevention matters. It's recognition that sustainable behavior change deserves support and that helping people improve their health before they reach a crisis has value.

I've seen firsthand what happens when people have someone walking alongside them instead of simply telling them what they should do. I've watched people build confidence, overcome obstacles they once thought were impossible, and make changes that transformed not just their health, but their relationships, careers, and quality of life.

Health coaching isn't meant to replace physicians, nurses, therapists, dietitians, or any other healthcare professional. It's another piece of the puzzle. It's another layer of support that helps people bridge the gap between knowing what they want to do and actually doing it.

If Medicare eventually recognizes that value, I think it has the potential to make this kind of support accessible to so many more people.

Looking Ahead

I don't know what the final CMS decision will be, but I do know this: becoming a health coach was never about adding another certification after my name.

It was about finding another way to serve.

When I look back over the last decade, I can see that every role I've had, every family I've worked with, every partnership I've built, and every barrier I've tried to remove has led me to this moment. My passion has always been helping people. Health coaching simply gave that passion a name.

I'm hopeful for what comes next, not just for coaches like me, but for every person who deserves support, encouragement, and someone in their corner as they work toward becoming the healthiest version of themselves.

Public Comment

CMS is inviting public feedback before making a final decision. Whether you're a health coach, healthcare professional, patient, caregiver, or someone who has experienced the impact of health coaching firsthand, your voice matters. The public comment period is currently open through September 14, 2026 and if this proposal resonates with you, I encourage you to take a few minutes to share your thoughts. Every comment helps demonstrate the value of prevention, behavior change, and whole-person care.

https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-14327

Frequently Asked Questions

What are CPT codes 0591T, 0592T, and 0593T?

These are proposed Category III CPT codes associated with Health & Well-Being Coaching services under CMS's proposed Medicare payment rule. The proposal is currently under public review.

Is Medicare already covering health coaching?

Not yet. CMS has proposed payment for these services, but the proposal must complete the public comment process before any final decisions are made.

Who can submit a public comment?

CMS accepts comments from healthcare professionals, organizations, patients, caregivers, coaches, employers, and members of the public during the official comment period.

Why is health coaching important?

Health coaching helps people build sustainable behavior changes by supporting motivation, goal setting, confidence, and accountability using evidence-based coaching approaches.