Medical Nutrition Therapy

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in promoting increased awareness of nutrition, healthful eating and the medical nutrition therapy (MNT) benefit covered by Medicare. Approximately 8.6 million Americans at least 60 years or older are diagnosed with diabetes or acute renal failure. MNT provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional may result in improved diabetes and renal disease management and other health outcomes and may help delay disease progression.

Medical nutrition therapy services mean nutritional diagnostic, therapeutic and counseling services provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional for the purpose of managing diabetes or a renal disease.

Medicare provides coverage of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for beneficiaries diagnosed with diabetes and/or renal disease (except for those receiving dialysis) when provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional who meets the provider qualification requirements. The beneficiary’s treating physician must provide a referral and indicate a diagnosis of diabetes or renal disease. Medicare provides coverage for three (3) hours of MNT in the first year and two (2) hours in subsequent years. Additional hours may be covered in certain situations.

Note: For the purpose of this benefit, renal disease means chronic renal insufficiency or the medical condition of a beneficiary who has been discharged from the hospital after a successful renal transplant for up to 36 months post-transplant. Chronic renal insufficiency means a reduction in renal function not severe enough to require dialysis or transplantation [Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) 13-50 ml/min/1.73m].

Talk with your eligible Medicare patients about the benefits of managing diabetes and renal disease through MNT and encourage them to make an appointment with a registered dietitian or nutrition professional qualified to provide MNT services covered by Medicare.

For any further assistance please reach out to Palmetto GBA .

Resources

• CMS ICD-10 
   
• CMS Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT): MLN006559 — Medicare Preventive Services
   
• CMS National Coverage Determination (NCD): Medical Nutrition Therapy (180.1)
   
• Code of Federal Regulations Definitions: eCFR :: 42 CFR 410.130 — Definitions
   
• Code of Federal Regulations: eCFR :: 42 CFR 410.132 — Medical nutrition therapy
   
• March is National Nutrition Month (PDF)