Public Policy News

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Importance of Nutrition in School Meals Highlighted in Academy Recommendations

In regulatory comments, the Academy highlighted the unique skillset and expertise of its members who work every day to serve healthful school meals to students while grappling with continuing challenges intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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COVID-19 PHE Ends May 11

May 11 marks the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which allowed for regulatory and legislative actions resulting in flexibilities that changed access to telehealth for Medicare beneficiaries and how RDNs can provide telehealth services.

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Academy Provides Input to FNS on Community Eligibility Provision, Increasing Options for Schools

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics strongly supports and advocates for healthful school meals. School meals are crucial in alleviating childhood food insecurity, and studies continue to show schools are the healthiest place in the U.S. for children to eat.

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Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing Focuses on Nutrition Priorities for 2023 Farm Bill

SNAP was showcased by witness testimony during the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing on April 19, 2023, in preparation for the next Farm Bill.

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Academy Strongly Opposes CMS Proposed Change to Malnutrition Diagnosis Affecting Medicare Advantage Payments

The Academy provided feedback and recommendations to the Advance Notice of Methodological Changes for Calendar Year 2024 for Medicare Advantage Capitation Rates and Part C and Part D Payment Policies.

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Academy Provides Input to CMS' Quality Payment Program

The Academy continues to support the use of the Nutrition/Dietitian Specialty Measure Set as it is a valuable resource for RDNs to know what quality measures are available for selection for reporting under the Quality performance category.

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Valuable Role of RDNs Highlighted in Recommendations to CMS

The Academy highlighted the need for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to fulfill opportunities brought about by the Affordable Care Act to expand equitable access to quality care to all Americans.

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Public Health Emergency to End on May 11, 2023

On January 30, 2023, President Biden announced plans to end the Public Health Emergency, effective May 11, 2023.

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Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023: Telehealth Provisions and Medicare Payment Adjustments

This update focuses on telehealth and Medicare payment provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (the omnibus).

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Academy Responds to FY23 Omnibus Bill

The Academy commends the provisions included in the fiscal year 2023 omnibus, released this week by the 117th U.S. Congress, that support health care and key nutrition security efforts. The Senate’s bill included two Academy priorities: the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Amendment, will positively impact the lives of pregnant and lactating workers.

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New USDA Virtual Nutrition Center of Excellence

The USDA's new Agricultural Science Center of Excellence for Nutrition and Diet for Better Health aims to accelerate research on diet-related chronic diseases, including cancer.

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Improving Cancer Health Outcomes

Academy Provides Input, Support for National Institutes of Health’s first draft of the report “Nutrition as Prevention for Improved Cancer Health Outcomes."

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Licensure Compact Exploration Update

The Academy continues assessing and developing recommendations for a potential new interstate professional licensure compact for registered dietitian nutritionists.

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Academy to Explore RDN Licensure Compact

The Academy was selected through a competitive grant process for Department of Defense funding to work with the Council of State Governments' National Center for Interstate Compacts on an interstate licensure compact for the dietetics profession.

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National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health Sets Stage for Major Policy Changes

Recommendations incorporated in the policy include free, healthful school meals, a strengthened national commitment to nutrition research, and diversifying the nutrition workforce.

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Transformative Farm Bill: Academy Joins Organizations in Advocating to the White House and Congress

The Academy believes a transformative Farm Bill should build on the momentum and robust investments included in the Inflation Reduction Act, and other actions taken by the Biden administration.

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Academy Mourns Loss of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, a True Leader on Nutrition and Hunger Issues

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is saddened to hear of the tragic loss of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (Ind.) and two members of her staff, Emma Thomson and Zachery Potts.

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Importance of MNT and DSMT in Virtual Advocacy Day

The Academy co-hosted a virtual advocacy day with the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists on two priority issues: the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act and the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act.

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Academy Highlights Key Policy Priorities in Recommendations for White House Conference

The Academy urged the White House to "acknowledge the fundamental importance of nutrition by committing to actively pursue, implement and fund policies and programs addressing all social determinants of health."

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An Update on Licensure in Florida

An appeal filed in response to the February 18, 2022, ruling upholding Florida's professional licensure law was denied.

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Telehealth Provisions in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 public health emergency, many temporary flexibilities to Medicare's telehealth coverage polices would require an act of Congress to make permanent. The first such actions on that front have been taken under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 15, 2022.

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Funding for Nutrition and Health Programs in FY22 Omnibus Appropriations Bill

The FY22 omnibus appropriations bill signed into law by President Biden includes substantial funds for critical nutrition and health programs.

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Update from the Academy on Florida Licensure Case

Update on the Academy's ongoing initiatives related to the decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether an unlicensed individual’s desire to provide medical counseling implicates free speech rights that override the state of Florida’s ability to require health care professionals to be licensed before practicing.

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Academy Unveils Telehealth Stance

To equip the Academy and RDNs to support strong telehealth policies at the state and federal levels, the Academy Board has voted for the adoption of a five-part stance on telehealth policy.

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Licensure Update: September 2020

This is an update for nutrition and dietetics practitioners on the Academy's work on licensure, particularly in Florida, since the most recent communication on July 28, 2020.

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Florida's New Licensure Law

On June 30, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill updating the state's Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Act, aligning it more closely with the Academy's Model Practice Act.

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Florida Governor Signs Licensure Law

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a long-awaited bill updating Florida's dietetics licensure law to align it more closely to the Academy's Model Practice Act.

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Academy Statement on Florida Licensure Vote

The Academy is gratified that the Florida Senate and House have passed amended legislation that maintains professional competencies of health care practitioners with expertise in nutrition care services.

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Academy Provides Input on Updating WIC Food Packages

The Academy supports the efforts to promote balance and to prioritize dignity with individual choice within the WIC food package.

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