Medicare MNT Legislative Update

There has been widespread discussion among RDs whether or not MNT coverage has been expanded as a result of recent Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. The answer is RDs can’t bill Medicare Part B for conditions other than diabetes and kidney disease just yet. The preventive services title (Title 1), which goes into effect January 2009, establishes a procedure by which Medicare may (and in ADA’s view should) expand coverage of preventive services, including MNT. In order for MNT to be expanded Title 1, Medicare will initiate a number of steps to establish the new MNT policies. Therefore, RDs interested in expanding their practice should note that at this time it is not known what new services will be covered when the bill goes into effect next year. In addition, at this time no new services can be billed to Medicare. ADA is communicating and meeting with the Medicare agencies as they work through regulatory processes for implementation of new MNT services. ADA is meeting with Medicare officials to determine the exact process that is required to expand the benefit. ADA will notify its members as new information becomes available.