Medical Nutrition and Dietitian Billing Services

Q: Can Registered Dietitians bill Medicare directly?

Yes. RDs can bill Medicare directly if they have an active National Provider Identifier (NPI) and are enrolled as Medicare providers. Claims must follow Medicare Part B coverage rules for MNT services.

Q: Do Transcure billing services assist with credentialing?

Transcure’s dietitian billing services offer complimentary credentialing support, including CAQH profile setup, insurance panel applications, and documentation submission, to help RDs become in-network providers faster.

Q: How long does reimbursement take for dietitian claims?

Clean claims are typically reimbursed within 14–30 days, depending on the payer’s processing cycle and whether electronic funds transfer (EFT) is set up.

Q: Can Registered Dietitians bill for telehealth services?

Yes, if telehealth billing complies with state parity laws and payer requirements. Claims must include the correct Place of Service (POS) code and telehealth modifiers.

Q: Is group billing allowed for dietitians?

Yes. CPT code 97804 covers group Medical Nutrition Therapy sessions for two or more patients, with reimbursement calculated per 30-minute unit.

We help food and nutrition companies bill Medicaid, Medicare, and commercial payers for:

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT)
Nutrition Counseling
Dietitian-led Interventions
Medically Tailored Meals

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Why Do U.S.-Based Dietitians Need Specialized Billing?

U.S. dietitians require specialized billing due to payer-specific coverage rules, CPT code restrictions, credentialing protocols, and state licensure boundaries. The reasons for U.S.-based dietitians needing specialized billing are listed below.

Medicare only covers MNT for diabetes, kidney disease, or post-transplant patients. RDs must validate ICD-10 codes, secure physician referrals, track session limits, and use correct CPT codes that make specialized billing necessary.

CPT codes 97802–97804 require accurate time-based documentation and are reimbursed in 15-minute service units. Specialized dietitian billing services document time spent, medical necessity, and progress notes per session to avoid undercoding.

Commercial payers mandate prior authorization and eligibility verification before claims submission for MNT, obesity counseling, and preventive nutrition services. Billing services prevent claim denials by initiating and tracking PA in time.

Insurers require dietitians to be credentialed and in-network to approve reimbursement. Expert dietitian billing services accelerate CAQH updates, licensure, and malpractice submissions, and payer follow-ups to reduce claim denials.

What Dietitian Billing Services Does Transcure Provide?

Insurance verification

Claim submission and tracking

Denial resolution and appeals

Credentialing with major payers

Coding audits

Patient billing and collections

In-House vs. Outsourced Billing: What’s Best for U.S. RDs?

Criteria

Workflow Control

Staff Expertise

Denial Management

Speed of Reimbursement

Cost Structure

Best For

In-House Billing

Complete control over claim submission, follow-up, and patient communication

Requires trained billing staff familiar with dietitian-specific CPT and ICD-10 codes

Dependent on internal staff knowledge and time availability

Varies by staff efficiency; may slow if workload increases

Fixed annual costs: salaries, benefits, software ($40k–$60k for small practice)

Large clinics, hospitals, or high-volume multi-RD practices

Outsourcing Billing to Transcure

Limited control; processes managed by an external team

Access to certified billers with dietitian billing specialization

Dedicated denial resolution team with payer-specific strategies

Often 15–20% faster due to streamlined processes

Variable costs: typically 4%–8% of collections or $3–$10 per claim

Solo RDs, small clinics, or practices with <100 claims/month

Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) Billing for U.S. Dietitians

Billing for Medical Nutrition Therapy requires precise use of CPT codes 97802–97804 and HCPCS codes G0270–G0271, along with accurate ICD-10 linkage to covered diagnoses. Whether billing for diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity counseling, or preventive nutrition therapy, every claim must align with payer-specific rules.

Transcure’s MNT billing process includes benefit verification, prior authorization management, time-based documentation tracking, and claim submission for both individual and group sessions. Our nutrition therapy billing experts work with Medicare Part B, Medicaid programs, and commercial insurance plans to maximize coverage, reduce denials, and speed up payment cycles.

How Can Transcure’s Smart Billing Strategies Help U.S. Dietitians Maximize Revenue?

Transcure’s revenue-maximizing strategies with estimated ROI impact for U.S. dietitians are mapped in the table below.

Strategy

Verify insurance benefits before each visit

Use group billing for classes or workshops

Track and resubmit denied claims

Leverage telehealth parity laws

Document time accurately for CPT units

Estimated ROI Impact

Prevents 10–20% of claim denials

2–3× revenue per time block

Recovers 5–15% of lost revenue

Expands billable reach by 20–30%

Reduces underbilling by 5–10%

What Should U.S. RDs Look for in a Billing Service Provider?

EHR and PM Integration

Select a service that integrates with your existing EHR for HIPAA-compliant data exchange, reduces manual entry, and prevents claim submission errors.

U.S.-Based Billing Support

Collaborate with domestic billing teams to navigate payer rules, state licensure laws, and telehealth parity regulations, ensuring faster claim resolution.

CAQH Management

Ensure the provider handles CAQH updates, insurance panel enrollment, and recredentialing to maintain in-network status and maximize reimbursement rates.

Transparent Pricing Structure

Look for clear percentage-based or per-claim rates without hidden fees, and request references or case studies to validate performance and success rates.

Why Is Credentialing Critical for Dietitians in the U.S.?

Credentialing is critical for dietitians in the U.S. because it determines whether they can bill as in-network providers; without it, most payers will not reimburse claims. Transcure manages the entire credentialing process for its clients, including NPI registration, CAQH profile setup, and insurance panel enrollment for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial payers.

Transcure offers complimentary credentialing services with our complete medical billing solution, unlike other billing companies that charge $1,000 to $5,000 for credentialing alone.

We Work with Leading U.S. Insurers and Nutrition Programs:

Transcure’s dental billing experts are well-versed in all major dental software and EHR platforms used in Texas. This expertise prevents integration issues and maximizes efficiency in your workflows.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can Registered Dietitians bill Medicare directly?