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Bring Value to the Affordable Care Act

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EALTH CARE DELIVERY AND payment are changing in the United States! Traditional fee-for-service payment systems are being replaced by bundled payments and value-based purchasing. Care is moving from a volume-driven system to one driven by value. Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) need to demonstrate, not only to insurance companies but also to health care systems and primary care practices, the value we bring to patient care based on clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and cost savings.



RESOURCES FOR NEW SYSTEMS In navigating this complicated environment, the Academy offers us support and resources, led by the Nutrition Services Coverage Team and its director, Marsha Schofield, MS, RD, LD, FAND, and the Coding and Coverage Committee. 





The House of Delegates’ (HOD) Fall 2013 Backgrounder “Nutrition Services Delivery and Payment: The Business of Every Academy Member” (http://www. eatright.org/Members/content. aspx?id¼11381) contains useful information based on the discussion at the Fall 2013 HOD meeting that showed most of us are at the beginning of the learning curve. The Nutrition Services Delivery and Payment Action Plan (www. eatright.org/hod, under Mega Issues and Backgrounders, Updates to Mega Issues) was developed jointly by the Coding and Coverage and Legislative and Public Policy Committees in response to the HOD discussion. The Academy has produced webinars that are well worth your time, including: B “The Affordable Care Act: What’s In It for Me?” B “Reimbursement: New Game, New Rules” (previous two webinars at www.eatright. org/coverage, under Health Care Reform)

ª 2014 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

“Grassroots Marketing of MNT [Medical Nutrition Therapy] by RDNs for RDNs— Approaching Employers and Insurance Companies” B “Grassroots Marketing of MNT by RDNs for RDNs— Approaching the Decision Makers of Self Funded Insurance Plans.” (previous two webinars at http://www.eat right.org/Members/content. aspx?id¼7775) Consider distributing “Why Adding an RD to Your Practice Team Is Good Medicine” (http://www. eatright.org/Members/content.aspx? id¼6442477247) to your practice team). Read “Registered Dietitian Nutritionists Bring Value to New Health Care Delivery Models,” which will be published in an upcoming issue of the Journal. B



SECURE OUR PLACE The new world of health care reinforces the need for us to hone our business skills, be creative in our business models, and be risk takers: 











The Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics worked with Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield to achieve in-network credentialing status for RDNs. The Georgia Academy achieved Medicaid coverage for MNT services provided by RDNs. The South Carolina Academy achieved coverage for nutrition counseling by RDNs for Medicaid patients with obesity. The Ohio Academy achieved Medicaid coverage for MNT services provided by RDNs. The Illinois Academy worked with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois to achieve in-network credentialing status for RDNs. Linda Arpino, MA, RD, CDN, has been integrating her services into local patient-centered medical homes.

Sonja L. Connor 





Mary Cluskey, PhD, RD, has been building the role for RDNs and nutrition care in primary care as part of Oregon’s coordinated care organizations. Marcy Kyle, RDN, LD, CDE, convinced her hospital administration to have RDNs go into physicians’ offices to provide Medicare preventive services. Julie Patterson, MBA, RDN, LDN, implemented the intensive behavioral therapy for obesity benefit for Medicare patients in her hospital system.

GET UP, TAKE ACTION If you’re involved in innovative service delivery and payment models, e-mail [email protected] so I can let others appreciate what you have done and replicate your efforts. It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action. —Al Batt, American writer I hope you are inspired to sit up, take notice, and energetically take the action that will result in RDNs being fully incorporated into the health care delivery and payment systems that the Affordable Care Act is creating. Sonja L. Connor, MS, RDN, LD [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2014.07.014

JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS

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Bring value to the Affordable Care Act.

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