July 10, 2023 – Access to nutrition care and services for Medicaid beneficiaries is inconsistent and varies by state, making it challenging to navigate coverage and payment for medical nutrition therapy. In order to advocate for increased access, it is important to assess the current environment for opportunities and gaps. The Academy has partnered with The Milken Institute of Public Health at The George Washington University to conduct the “Medicaid Nutrition Coverage Policy Mapping Study,” which aims, for the first time ever, to analyze how state laws and Medicaid policies impact the provision of medical nutrition therapy in state Medicaid programs, as well as the status of the RDN as credentialed providers in state Medicaid Programs.
Dr. Anne Markus, a professor at GW’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, and chair of the Health Policy and Management Department, is serving as the principal investigator for the project. Academy staff provided training to GW fellows who have undertaken the data collection phase of the project. The instruction focused on the professional education and credentialing of RDNs, evidenced-based nutrition care, as well as foundation information related to benefits, coverage, coding, billing and payment expectations for MNT.
The GW team has collected data from all state programs which are currently being analyzed. In June, preliminary data and findings were shared during the Payment and Reimbursement Affinity Group meeting; the GW team will join the July 25 meeting for an encore presentation and discussion (register to attend).
The full scope of the project will be presented in partnership with the Academy’s Legislative and Public Policy and the Nutrition Services Payment Committees during the October 10 FNCE® session: “Mapping Medicaid Nutrition Coverage: Where are We Now and Where Can we Go?” The Academy will use the findings from the project to shape MNT Medicaid expansion and payment advocacy efforts, and to support member education and resources.
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