Medical Nutrition Therapy

Many registered dietitian nutritionists work in the treatment and prevention of disease, such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension, by providing medical nutrition therapy—or MNT. MNT is a specialized area of nutrition practice that involves the use of individualized nutrition interventions to treat or manage medical conditions and diseases. The RDN often acts as part of a medical team, in various practice settings, such as hospitals, physician offices, private practice and other health care facilities. Medical nutrition therapy is covered by Medicare for diagnoses of diabetes, non-dialysis kidney disease, and 36 months post kidney transplant when a Medicare beneficiary has been referred by any physician (MD or DO), and when provided by an RDN who is enrolled as a Medicare Provider.