Join the Effort: Contact Your Legislator Today!
We are pleased to share that the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) Act of 2023 (S. 3297/H.R. 6407) has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Gary Peters (D-MI) and in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congresswomen Robin Kelly (D-IL) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA). Securing insurance coverage for registered dietitian nutritionist visits for celiac disease patients is a priority for the Celiac Disease Foundation, and we are encouraged to see progress toward this goal.
This bill would expand Medicare Part B coverage of outpatient MNT services to a number of currently uncovered diseases or conditions – including celiac disease. It would allow providers, including physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, and psychologists to refer patients for essential nutritional counseling.
Our patient and caregiver community consistently share how difficult it is to adopt and follow a gluten-free diet in a food ecosystem that includes gluten in more than 80% of its products – while also maintaining a healthy, balanced diet. Healthcare providers strongly recommend counseling by dietitians skilled in celiac disease, and research shows that counseling from a registered dietitian or other nutrition professional is essential for the well-being of our community.
Your voice matters in the fight to secure these services for celiac disease patients!
Please contact your legislators today and ask them to co-sponsor this bill: celiac.org/mnt
We extend our deepest gratitude to Senators Collins and Peters and Representatives Kelly and Kiggans for their leadership on this issue, and we urge members of Congress to pass this important legislation this session.
Learn more about the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023 here: Senators Collins, Peters Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Disease Management and Prevention for Seniors