Subject:Ordering Therapeutic Diets: State Analysis and Practice Tips Available
July 16, 2014
Dear Affiliate, DPG and MIG Public Policy Leaders:
In the wake of the major policy success for our members involving therapeutic diet orders, the Academy has put together information for its members to help them with the process of implementing the rule.
As a reminder, in May the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule enabling registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) in the hospital setting to become privileged to independently order therapeutic diets.
Starting Friday, July 11, 2014 the rule officially became effective and members can now start working toward becoming privileged by their hospitals to independently order diets in the hospital setting in accordance with state regulations.
Since the rule leaves it up to the hospital to make the decision of who can become privileged to independently order diets (within state law), the Academy is encouraging its members to use the available state analysis and practice tips to initiate the implementation process.
1.Use the grid to analyze the impact of your state’s licensure law and hospital and other regulations on your ability to immediately take advantage of the rule’s opportunities, or whether your state will need to revise laws or regulations to align with the federal rule before obtaining privileges.
2.Work with your affiliate to identify strategies for removing identified statutory or regulatory barriers within your state.
3.Once all barriers are eliminated, review the practice tips to determine next steps for obtaining privileges in your hospital.
4.For additional information, please check out our FAQs
This is an exciting time for the profession, Academy members and the health of Americans. The rule will improve patient care and save hundreds of millions of dollars on health care costs.
We remain committed to extending the ability to order therapeutic diets across the continuum of care and will be working with CMS to allow RDNs in long-term care settings to independently order therapeutic diets.
URGENT ACTION REQUIRED
PLEASE cut and paste the following Academy-approved message and share it with your members:
Work with Your Affiliate to Be Able to Independently Order Therapeutic Diets in Hospitals
State Analysis and Practice Tips for Implementation Available
After more than four years of the Academy working with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), RDNs employed in hospitals may now be allowed to order patient diets without requiring the supervision or approval of a physician or another practitioner.
CMS expects this rule to improve the efficiency and efficacy of nutrition care and save up to $459 million in annual hospital costs.
The Academy supports this new rule that will provide patients with better health care and help hospitals function more efficiently.
Although the final rule became effective July 11, 2014, implementing it in each state in various hospital facilities is a process that will take time. As a benefit to its members, the Academy has provided resources for implementation.
RDNs’ Role in Implementation:
Since the rule leaves it up to the hospital to make the decision of who can become privileged to independently order diets (in accordance with state law), the Academy is encouraging its members to use the available state analysis and practice tips to initiate the process in hospitals.
1.Use the grid to analyze the impact of your state’s licensure law and hospital and other regulations on your ability to immediately take advantage of the rule’s opportunities, or whether your state will need to revise laws or regulations to align with the federal rule before obtaining privileges.
2.Work with your affiliate to identify strategies for removing identified statutory or regulatory barriers within your state.
3.Once all barriers are eliminated, review the practice tips to determine next steps for obtaining privileges in your hospital.
4.For additional information, please check out our FAQs.
This is an exciting time for the profession, Academy members and the health of Americans. The Academy is encouraging members to work with their affiliate to understand the rule and how it can be applied in their state.
If you have question, please let us know.
Best Regards,
Teresa
Teresa A. Nece, MS, RDN, LD, SNS
Director, Grassroots Advocacy
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
1120 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 480
Washington, D.C. 20036
Phone: 800.877.0877 Ext. 6022
Fax: 202.775.8284
Email: