Outpatient Medical Nutrition Therapy

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) improves clinical outcomes for patients while also enhancing their quality of life and lowering health care costs. MNT includes nutritional diagnostic, therapeutic and counseling services for the purpose of disease management. Research shows MNT helps conserve physician time and reduces medication use and hospital admissions for persons with obesity, diabetes, disorders of lipid metabolism and other chronic diseases.

Registered Dietitian Katy VanderWal has the knowledge and skillset to help patients make changes with impactful outcomes. Her philosophy is to meet patients where they are regarding diet and their health. By coaching patients to make realistic, incremental diet changes, Katy helps patient improve their health and learn to eat for their medical condition.

Katy is available to provide outpatient nutrition services for pediatric and adult patients alike, including:

• Diabetic education management
• Chronic diseases, including Celiac disease, hypertension, GI disorders and high cholesterol
• Tube feeding management
• Food allergies
• Disordered eating
• Healthy eating and weight management
• Nutrition for improved wound healing

Medicare Coverage

Medicare covers outpatient MNT for patients with diabetes, chronic renal insufficiency/end-stage renal disease (non-dialysis renal disease) or post kidney transplant. All other MNT services are typically out-of-pocket expenses for patients.

Qualifying patients generally receive three hours of MNT in the first year and two hours of MNT in subsequent years. For changes in medical diagnosis, condition or treatment, Medicare covers additional hours of MNT.

Medicare requires a physician order for patients to see a registered dietitian for MNT. If a patient requires additional MNT hours, another physician referral with documented medical record is required.

Private Insurance Coverage

For private health insurance, patients should check with their health plan to see if MNT is covered. Most payers commonly cover diabetes and non-dialysis kidney disease diagnoses. However, there are instances in which private insurance payers cover other diagnoses, too, such as obesity.

Required Referral Information

When making a referral to Brookings Health for MNT, please:

• Include the diagnosis and diagnosis code(s) for diabetes or non-dialysis kidney disease;
• Send recent lab data and medications; and
• Document the medical necessity for MNT in the patient’s medical chart.

Have your office fill out Brookings Health’s Medical Nutrition Therapy Referral Form and fax it to Central Scheduling at (605) 696-8889 or scan and email it to BHSCentralScheduling@brookingshealth.org.

Refer a Patient

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