First up, we would like to thank everyone for a fantastic Annual Conference! A special thank you goes out to Rachel Richins, Conference Chair, Joy Musselman, Conference Chair-elect, and Krista Viau, Sponsor Vendor chair, who had been working for months to plan and execute one of our most successful conferences yet. Wonderful work ladies! Be sure to check next week’s post for a full re-cap of the conference. Until then you can check our our Facebook page to see some great pictures from the two-day event.
We decided to delay our planned post on the Annual Conference for a very important reason. Last week the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics received a response to our petition to the White House from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Academy President Sylvia Escott-Stump issued a letter to all members summarizing what has happened thus far, explaining where the Academy currently stands and what each of us can do as members to support these efforts. To read the full letter, log-in to the member’s section of the Academy’s website. We have included a section of Sylvia’s letter below along with two specific ways you can take action today. A number of dietitians have taken just a few minutes to contact their representatives using the link below! The Academy has a web form that you can send directly to your own Utah legislators. While you’re there, you can also contact your legislators about our current efforts to expand medicare coverage for medical nutrition therapy. We have made great progress on this issue thus far because of the participation of each and every one of our members. We urge you all to continue to take a stand for our profession.
CMS’ Response to White House Petition about Intensive Behavioral Counseling for Obesity
On Tuesday, March 27, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics received a response from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in regards to the White House petition. In President Sylvia Escott-Stump’s letter to Academy members, in response to CMS’ response, she stated: “…[CMS’ response] fails to appreciate that a referral from a primary care provider to an RD exemplifies cost effective and clinically effective coordinated care. Despite this limitation…registered dietitians can work with physicians in the primary care setting and bill ‘incident to’ the physician or providers. While this opportunity is not ideal for registered dietitians, it is a significant first step in Medicare’s coverage for obesity that previously did not exist, and we will build upon it.”
What can each member do now?
1. Stay informed and know the facts. To learn more, visit http://www.eatright.org/
2. If you haven’t communicated with your members of Congress, please reach out today and ask them to stand up for the effectiveness of registered dietitians. Take action now! It takes just a few minutes to do and it does make a difference, visit http://www.eatright.org/
UAND President Julie Hansen meeting with her state representative Dixon Pitcher at UAND Legislative Day 2012
Have you contacted your legislator or participated in our public policy efforts in some other way? Let us know in the comments section below!