Federal Public Policy

Get updates on advocacy and public policy issues impacting nutrition and dietetics professionals at the federal level by checking out the Academy's Public Policy Initiatives. Academy resources include: Medical Nutrition Therapy Act, Farm Bill, Treat and Reduce Obesity Act, Dietitian Licensure Compact, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and more.

Action Alerts:

Amplify the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' voice for better food, nutrition and health policies. Action alerts allow us to bring the Academy's policy issues to the attention of members of Congress and help to raise awareness and add legitimacy to a particular priority issue. Available to both Academy members and the public, it literally only takes a minute to support specific bills or topics, share your view with your elected officials and advocate for strong nutrition policy.

Action Alerts are announced via Eat Right Weekly and Latest News, posted to social media, shared with dietetic practice groups, member interest groups and affiliate associations, and may be emailed to all or some Academy members, depending on geographic location or specialty. 

There are 4 Action Alerts right now. Please take 5 minutes to complete if you have not already:
  1. Protect Medicare Patients Access to MNT
  2. Urge Congress to Avoid the Impact of a Federal Shutdown, Extend Critical Waivers and Protect Nutrition Programs.
  3. Support Nutrition Research and Protect Public Health
  4. Tell Congress to oppose changes to SNAP and School Lunch Programs
TAKE ACTION NOW

Nutrition and Dietetics State Advocacy Summit

Rather than hold one day of advocacy, all Academy members – including students – are encouraged to get involved year-round by participating in an affinity group. There is a group dedicated to the following issues that impact the nutrition and dietetics profession: MNT Expansion; Nutrition Security; Licensure Initiatives; and Payment and Reimbursement. Convening once a month, these specialized groups connect members with an interest, experience and/or expertise in a specific policy issue area with opportunities to learn more and advocate.

Academy Public Policy News

Effective April 1, 2025: UnitedHealthcare Replacement Codes for HCPCS Code S9470

Effective for dates of service on or after April 1, 2025, UnitedHealthcare will update its Commercial and Individual Exchange Replacement Codes Policy to exclude HCPCS code S9470 (Nutrition Counseling, dietitian visit) from reimbursement. This change aligns with the CMS status indicator of “I” (not valid for Medicare purposes), meaning the code will not be considered for payment.

Providers are advised to use the appropriate replacement CPT codes for medical nutrition therapy:
  • CPT code 97802: Initial assessment and intervention in MNT, face-to-face with a patient, per 15 minutes.
  • CPT code 97803: Re-assessment and intervention in MNT, face-to-face with a patient, per 15 minutes.

This change reinforces the shift toward standardized coding for nutrition care. MNT services are already recognized with designated CPT codes 97802, 97803 and 97804, which have established reimbursement pathways through Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers.

HCPCS code S9470 has historically been used for nutrition counseling but lacks clear definitions for time or scope creating inconsistencies in billing and payment. By aligning with CMS practices and phasing out S9470, UnitedHealthcare’s updated policy highlights the importance of using CPT codes 97802 and 97803 to reflect MNT services accurately.

For dietitians, this change underscores the value of documenting and coding MNT services appropriately to support consistent reimbursement and demonstrate the impact of RD provided care.

Updated March 2025