Nutritional Services Benefit
Adults and children covered under SoonerCare may have up to six hours of nutritional counseling per year by a licensed registered dietitian. This must be prescribed by a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse or nurse midwife.
Payment is made for nutritional services as set forth below:
(1) Adults: Payment is made for six hours of medically necessary nutritional counseling per year by a licensed registered dietitian via either in person or telehealth appointments. All services must be prescribed by a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse or nurse midwife and be face-to-face encounters between a licensed registered dietitian and the member. Services must be expressly for diagnosing, treating, preventing or minimizing the effects of illness. Nutritional services for the treatment of obesity are not covered unless there is documentation the obesity is a contributing factor in another illness.
(2) Children: Payment is made for medically necessary nutritional counseling as described above for adults. Nutritional services for the treatment of obesity may be covered for children as part of the EPSDT benefit. Additional services which are deemed medically necessary and allowable under federal regulations may be covered by the EPSDT benefit found at 317:30-3-65 and 317:30-3-65.11.
(3) Home and Community-Based Waiver Services for the Intellectually Disabled: All providers participating in the Home and Community-Based Waiver Services for the intellectually disabled program must have a separate contract with OHCA to provide nutrition services under this program. All services are specified in the individual’s plan of care.
(4) Individuals Eligible for Part B of Medicare: Payment is made utilizing the Medicaid allowable for comparable services. Services which are not covered under Medicare should be billed directly to OHCA.
(5) Obstetrical patients: Payment is made for a maximum of six hours of medically necessary nutritional counseling per year by a licensed registered dietitian for members at risk for or those who have been recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes. The initial consultation may be in a group setting for a maximum of two hours of class time. Thereafter, four hours of nutritional counseling by a licensed registered dietitian may be provided to the individual if deemed medically necessary, which may include a post-partum visit (typically done at six weeks after delivery). All services must be prescribed by a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse or a nurse midwife and be face-to-face be-tween a licensed registered dietitian and the member(s). Services must be solely for the prevention, diagnosis or treatment of gestational diabetes and either in-person or telehealth appointments.
