As previously communicated, most commercial managed care members are eligible for up to six fully covered one-on-one nutrition counseling sessions with a registered dietitian or primary care provider per benefit contract year. In the original communication about this benefit in the June 2007 edition of Partners in Health Update^SM, group counseling sessions were mistakenly included in the eligible list of codes. This benefit, however, was intended only to be provided in an individual setting – not in a group setting.

Therefore, effective March 1, 2013, nutrition counseling in a group setting will no longer be eligible for payment. Providers should no longer bill for medical nutrition therapy in a group setting with the following codes: 97804, G0271. Only diabetic education services are eligible for payment in a group setting with these codes.

Note: Members do not need to obtain a referral for nutrition counseling services.