Position of the American Dietetic Association: nutrition services in managed care

It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that medical nutrition therapy is an essential component of disease management and healthcare provided by managed care organizations, and that such care must be provided by qualified nutrition professionals. Compared with traditional fee-for-service reimbursement systems, managed care presents new opportunities for dietetics professionals. Until recently, the lack of billing infrastructure has handicapped nutrition providers who wish to bill for their services and has made it difficult to track the outcomes of nutrition care. With the publication of current procedure terminology codes for medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and the implementation of MNT benefits in Medicare part B for diabetes and nondialysis kidney disease, commercial payers, including managed care organizations (MCOs) are likely to implement or expand their coverage of MNT. A large body of evidence supports the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of MNT coverage within managed care plans. This evidence includes cost analyses of conditions treated by MNT, and clinical trial data confirming the efficacy of MNT in improving patient outcomes. MNT is also an important part of national standards of care for many chronic disease conditions. Based on evidence supporting the role of MNT in improving patient outcomes, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended that MNT services be reimbursed by Medicare when patients are referred by a physician. Provision of appropriate MNT can also help MCOs meet accreditation and quality standards established by entities such as the National Committee for Quality Assurance and the Joint Commission for the Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. Much of the work required to secure a place for MNT in MCOs will be done at the practitioner level, by nutrition professionals themselves. Registered dietitians must market MNT to their customers in managed care by addressing the needs of each player. By emphasizing the importance of MNT and other cost-effective forms of preventive care and disease management, MCOs will be well positioned to improve population health at modest cost.