Medical Nutrition Therapy

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a specialized treatment provided by registered dietitians (RD) to manage specific medical conditions through tailored nutrition plans. MNT involves a comprehensive assessment and ongoing support to monitor progress. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) are food and nutrition experts who have met the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) criteria to earn the RD credential. This includes:

• A Bachelor of Science degree and a Master's degree.
• The curriculum is weighted heavily in the sciences (chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology), and students are prepared to apply to medical school should they choose. 
• 1000 supervised hours of a post-baccalaureate internship. 
• Learning Activities and Competency Evaluation set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for education programs that prepare students for careers as registered dietitians, following successfully passing their board examination. 

General nutrition advice focuses on basic dietary guidelines for healthy eating without addressing specific health issues. It is less personalized and does not typically require medical oversight. Nutrition advice may come from individuals with titles such as “health coach” or “nutrition consultant. " They are not subject to the same intensive training or education as a registered dietitian, and their advice may be harmful. 

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) can be a valuable tool for addressing emotional eating and stress by combining clinical nutrition expertise with personalized behavioral strategies. 

Here are a few strategies our registered dietitians offer to support patients. Our registered dietitians can help you:

• Identify the emotional, psychological, and environmental triggers that lead to emotional eating (e.g., stress, boredom, loneliness, anxiety) and implement mindful techniques (breathing, journaling)  in order to reduce them.
• Create a structured plan for eating with room for flexibility. Many people who emotionally eat also skip meals, follow restrictive diets, or eat irregularly, which exacerbates cravings and binge behaviors.
• Understand how food affects your mood and energy levels. For instance, blood sugar swings can worsen anxiety and irritability.

Several health plans offer MNT benefits, including:

• Aetna
• Blue Cross (note: MNT is billed on the medical side if you have a mental health carve-out)
• Health Alliance Plan
• McLaren
• Medicare Part A (for patients with diabetes and kidney disease)
• Priority Health

Some health plans waive your co-pay and deductible for MNT, while others offer limited or unlimited visits. Although we can speak from our experience on MNT coverage, you are encouraged to contact your health plan and ask the following questions:

• Call the medical side of your health plan vs the behavioral side, as MNT is a medical benefit. 
• When calling, ask if you have the benefit for Medical Nutrition Therapy CPT codes 97802 and 97803 and the number of visits you have per calendar year. 
• Please note that dietitians must bill under the physician in Michigan, which we do at RCBM, so you will not find the names of the RCBM dietitians listed on your health plan’s roster.

At RCBM, we take an integrative approach to care. All disciplines work together to provide the best experience and outcomes. Most all of the mental health conditions that we treat at RCBM involve a nutrition component, and patients can benefit from medical nutrition therapy, including:

• Addiction
• ADHD
• Anxiety Disorders
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Chronic Fatigue and Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Mood Disorders
• Weight Management

Your treatment team works together as we communicate and collaborate on your individual care. In addition, we realize that it is hard to find a dietitian for mental health care in Michigan, so you do not have to be a current patient at RCBM to take advantage of our services.

If you are a current patient at RCBM, please contact our office at (248) 608-8800. If you are new to RCBM, you can initiate the admission process by completing a new patient registration form. Once you submit the form, we will match you with one of our registered dietitians. Please note that all appointments are virtual.

We look forward to working with you!