Medical nutrition therapy services
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers medical nutrition therapy services, if you’re eligible
Description
The services you get may include:
- An initial nutrition and lifestyle assessment
- Individual and/or group nutritional therapy services
- Help managing the lifestyle factors that affect your diabetes
- Follow-up visits to check on your progress
Coverage details
If you get dialysis in a dialysis facility, Medicare covers medical nutrition therapy services as part of your overall dialysis care.
If you have diabetes, you may also qualify for diabetes self-management training.
Who's eligible
You must have diabetes or kidney disease, or you’ve had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months. A doctor must refer you for the services.
Provider requirements
Only a registered dietitian (or nutrition professional who meets certain requirements) can provide medical nutrition therapy services.
Costs
You pay nothing for these services if you qualify for them.
How often
- Initial coverage includes 3 hours of medical nutrition therapy services in the first calendar year. These hours can’t be carried over to the next calendar year.
- If your doctor decides a change in your medical condition requires a change in your diet, they can give you a referral for more hours beyond the initial coverage. You may get up to 2 hours of follow-up services each calendar year, after the year you got your initial coverage.
Facility
If you live in a rural area, you might be able to get medical nutrition therapy services (from a registered dietitian or other nutrition professional) through telehealth. You must go to an office or medical facility that’s also in a rural area (in the U.S.) for your telehealth visit.