03/18/99 Medical Nutrition Therapy Act Re-introduced in Congress; Passage Will Save Dollars and Lives

Medical Nutrition Therapy Act Re-introduced in Congress; Passage Will Save Dollars and Lives

Press Release

March 18, 1999

Media Contacts: Tom Ryan or Maryanne Giustino
E-mail: media@eatright.org
(Please do not publish/broadcast contact information)

MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY ACT RE-INTRODUCED IN CONGRESS;PASSAGE WILL SAVE DOLLARS AND LIVES, SAYS AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION

CHICAGO--Thousands of lives and hundreds of millions of dollars could be saved, and the quality of health care for Medicare recipients could be greatly improved if Congress passes the Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, which was re-introduced in Congress Thursday (March 18).

The American Dietetic Association strongly supports passage of the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, which would extend Medicare to cover medical nutrition therapy. The bill is sponsored in the House by Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.), along with Reps. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Karen Thurman (D-Fla.). Senate co-sponsors are Sens. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho).

The Chicago-based ADA is the world's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. With nearly 70,000 members, ADA serves the public by promoting nutrition, health and well-being.

The Medical Nutrition Therapy Act last year obtained a majority of the House as co-sponsors. Noting that fewer than 1 percent of bills introduced in Congress ever achieve a majority as co-sponsors, ADA president and Stanford University research dietitian Ann Coulston said: "We are pleased and gratified that a bipartisan majority recognize that nutrition professionals play a vital role in the health-care process and in improving the lives of all our nation's citizens."

"Medical nutrition therapy" refers to the comprehensive services provided by a registered dietitian or other nutrition professional as part of a patient's health-care team. It has been proven effective in treating and controlling heart disease, stroke, some forms of cancer, diabetes, high cholesterol and other life-threatening conditions.

Studies also show patients receiving medical nutrition therapy require fewer hospitalizations and medications and have fewer complications.

"Millions of Americans, particularly those covered by Medicare, can greatly benefit from the training and expertise of a registered dietitian on their health-care teams," Coulston said.

There is currently no consistent pattern of reimbursable coverage for nutrition services, either under Medicare or in the private sector. ADA has urged the National Bipartisan Commission on the Future of Medicare to recognize the high level of Congressional support for medical nutrition therapy coverage in its recommendations on securing the long-term solvency and security of Medicare.

ADA's position, that medical nutrition therapy is effective and results in significant health benefits and cost savings, is supported by two recent studies, both conducted by the Lewin Group, a Fairfax, Va., independent health policy research firm.

One study, to be published in the April issue of The Journal of The American Dietetic Association, concludes that the costs of extending Medicare to cover all beneficiaries--inpatient and outpatient--would be paid for in savings on other health services after the third year of coverage. It estimates the net costs of medical nutrition therapy under Medicare, using the years 1998 to 2004, would be about $370 million. Costs would exceed savings for the first three years, but savings would outweigh costs beginning in the fourth year and afterward.

The other study, conducted by Lewin for the Department of Defense, estimates annual net savings of $3.1 million if medical nutrition therapy were included as a covered benefit in plans provided to Defense Department beneficiaries by civilian health-care organizations (TRICARE). The study confirmed that costs of medical nutrition therapy would be more than offset by reductions in money spent, for inpatient and outpatient services, treating people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease.

"These studies give even more solid evidence that medical nutrition therapy provided by dietetics professionals is an essential reimbursable component of comprehensive health-care services," Coulston said.