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Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) (NCD 180.1)

Medicare may cover medical nutrition therapy if you have diabetes or kidney disease, and your doctor refers you for this service. These services can be given by a registered dietitian or Medicare-approved nutrition professional, and include a nutritional assessment and counseling to help you manage your diabetes or kidney disease.

HCPCS/CPT Codes


97802 – MNT; initial assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes

97803 – MNT; re-assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient each 15 minutes

97804 – MNT; group (2 or more individual(s)), each 30 minutes

G0270 – MNT reassessment and subsequent intervention(s) for change in diagnosis, individual, each 15 minutes

G0271 – MNT reassessment and subsequent intervention(s) for change in diagnosis, group (2 or more), each 30 minutes

ICD-10-CM (ICD-9-CM) Codes


No specific diagnosis code

Contact local Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for guidance

Who Is Covered


Certain Medicare beneficiaries:

  • Who receive a referral from their treating physician; and
  • Are diagnosed with diabetes, renal disease, or who have received a kidney transplant within the last 3 years; and
  • A registered dietitian or nutrition professional must provide the services

Frequency


  • First year: 3 hours of one-on-one counseling; or
  • Subsequent years: 2 hours

If your condition, treatment, or diagnosis changes, you may be able to get more hours of treatment with a doctor’s referral. A doctor must prescribe these services and renew your referral yearly if continuing treatment is needed into another calendar year.

Beneficiary Pays


  • Copayment/coinsurance waived
  • Deductible waived

Other Notes


  • You cannot bill DSMT and MNT on the same date of service for the same beneficiary
  • If you get dialysis in a dialysis facility, Medicare covers MNT as part of your overall dialysis care.
  • If you're in a rural area, you may be able to get MNT through telehealth. A Registered Dietitian or other nutrition professional in a different location would provide the service.

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