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What are medical nutrition
therapy services?
In addition to the diabetes self-management training benefit,
people with diabetes can receive medical nutrition therapy
services. Your doctor must prescribe these services for you.
A registered dietitian or nutrition professional provides
medical nutrition therapy services. These services include:
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A review of your current eating habits
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Nutrition counseling (what foods to eat)
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How to manage lifestyle factors that affect your food
choices
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Follow-up visits to check on your progress in managing
your food choices.
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How can I get medical nutrition therapy
services?
If you have a diagnosis of diabetes or kidney disease, have a prescription
from your doctor for nutrition therapy services, and are eligible
for Medicare, you can get this benefit.
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What medical nutrition therapy
services does Medicare cover?
Medicare will help cover the following medical nutrition therapy
services provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional:
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A total of 3 hours of one-on-one or group medical nutrition
therapy services during the first year (you must get a prescription
from your doctor)
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An additional 2 hours of follow-up services each year
after the first year of services (you must get yearly prescriptions
from your doctor)
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Additional hours of services prescribed by your doctor
if your condition, treatment, or diagnosis changes.
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Where can I find medical nutrition
therapy services?
Your health care practitioner will refer you to a nutrition professional
in your area who can provide you with medical nutrition therapy
services. You can also contact the American Dietetic Association
(ADA), which provides a national referral service of local dietitians
across the country. You can call ADA's National Center for Nutrition
and Dietetics at 1-800-366-1655 or visit the Web site at www.eatright.org (click "Find a Nutrition Professional").
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