Therapeutic Diet Ordering Privileges
In May, the
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) gave RDs working in a hospital
the ability to order therapeutic diets without requiring a physician’s
order. While this is a step forward for
RDs, this same ruling also states that the hospital has the right to give these
ordering privileges to any nutrition professional. That nutrition professional does not
necessarily have to be an RD. There have
been mixed reactions to this decision, some saying that by including other
nutrition professionals it minimizes an RD’s credentials. Others felt with the inclusion of other nutrition
professionals, that RDs can “up their game” and prove why they knowledge and
skills are valuable. In either case, it
is important for this ruling to define what a qualified nutrition professional is. It was decided that the hospitals have the
ability to decide who and who is not a qualified nutrition professional on an
individual basis. The ruling states, “Not
every nutrition professional or every dietitian will automatically be able to
write independent orders.” The decision must
include medical staff recommendations for each individual. Overall, it has been considered a step in the
right direction for RDs and a huge win for nutrition professionals. The Academy did not directly give a statement
to Today’s Dietitian, however, in
other press releases the AND states they are focusing on the ways their members
will benefit from this new ruling.
AF
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