Yes there is a difference. Registered Dietitians are board-certified nutrition experts and have to meet the following qualifications:

• Graduate from a 4-year university with a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Nutrition.

• Secure and complete a 1-year Dietetic Internship program after college. Training includes additional advanced coursework and at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical practice at a variety of healthcare settings.

• Pass the RD Exam set forth by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

• Maintain 75 credits of continuing education every 5 years to stay up-to-date on nutrition science.

• Dietitians are required to hold a license in the state in which they practice and are legally able to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy to treat medical conditions.

• Many RDs also hold Masters Degrees in either Nutrition or Public Health.

Some Registered Dietitians will also refer to themselves as Nutritionists as this term is more recognizable in the public. They might use the credential “RDN” for “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist” to help people know they are in fact “nutritionists” as people might use the term, but they have acquired all of the proper training and education to obtain the RD credential.

A “Nutritionist” who does not have the RD credential is not a Registered Dietitian and has therefore not completed the requirements outlined above. They may have some additional training in nutrition or could just be interested in the field.

It is important to seek out professional and accurate nutrition advice from qualified individuals.

MS - Masters in Clinical Nutrition

RD - Registered Dietitian

LD - Licensed Dietitian in the states of Georgia and Pennsylvania

CDN - Licensed Dietitian in the state of New York

GA, NY, and PA.

Registered Dietitians must be licensed in the state the patient resides in order to provide Medical Nutrition Therapy.

Both!

Please visit the Services page for details.

Your insurance policy will dictate whether or not Telehealth services are covered under your plan. Please note that not all plans cover Telehealth and/or there may be a co-pay.

Reach out for help with benefits verification.

Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare (Georgia only).

This includes Aetna Meritain, Cigna + Oscar, Cigna International, and UMR.

This also includes Medicare Advantage plans with one of the above commercial insurance plans, only with a qualifying diagnosis of Diabetes or Kidney Disease.

Please contact me to discuss a discounted rate!

Call the 800 number on your insurance card and follow the prompts for Medical Benefits.

Ask the following questions:

Do I have preventative nutrition counseling benefits under my plan?

You may be asked for a procedure code (CPT code). Provide them with codes 97802. If they say you do not have coverage with these codes, try 99401.

Do I need a referral from my doctor to see a Registered Dietitian?

Some plans require a doctor referral in order to use your nutrition benefits. If you need a referral, we will need to obtain a copy prior to making an appointment.

Is my diagnosis covered under my plan?

You may need to provide a diagnosis code (ICD-10 code). Provide them with Z71.3 to see if you have benefits under this code. If not, I am usually able to find a covered code, just reach out and I will assist.

How many visits per calendar year am I entitled to?

This varies.

Some plans cover 3 visits per year, others may cover unlimited visits.

Do I have a co-pay?

If you have a co-pay, it will likely be for the specialist co-pay rate. This rate can be found on the front of your card. Keep in mind, if you have preventative benefits for nutrition as most plans do, you will likely not have a co-pay. This is usually for medical benefits only.

If I see a Registered Dietitian via Telehealth, is there an additional cost for this service?

For most plans, the coverage is the same. But be sure to ask since some plans do not cover Telehealth and might require a co-pay.

Questions? It can be confusing! I am happy to assist with all insurance benefit verification.

Yes!

Registered Dietitians must be licensed in the state in which the patient resides.

We will connect using the Healthie app.

Remember, if using your insurance your plan may or may not cover Telehealth services. Feel free to reach out for help with benefits verification.

Yes!

We can bill for out-of-state Telehealth services for Aetna, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare.