Legislative News
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
Did You Know?
The Commission on Dietetic Registration released Revised 2024 Scope and Standards of Practice for RDNs? You can access the SOP and SOPP here and complete the ‘Using the 2024 Scope and Standards of Practice to Expand Opportunities’ free learning module worth 2 CPEUs here!
Have You Taken the MNT Act Action Alert?
The Academy thanks U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Gary Peters (Mich.) and U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly (Ill.) and Jen Kiggans (Va.) for introducing the Medical Nutrition Therapy Act of 2023.
Passage of the Medical Nutrition Act would be a win-win for you and the communities you serve:
- Increase access to nutrition care for seniors with chronic diseases
- Authorize health care professionals to refer patients for MNT
- Foster health equity
If you have not yet taken the MNT Act action alert, please do so here and share the public action alert with your networks!
Have you Taken the Farm Bill Action Alert?
A Farm Bill that assures a nourishing, affordable and sustainable food supply for all is paramount in achieving the Academy's vision: "a world where all people thrive through the transformative power of food and nutrition."
Urge your Members of Congress to pass a Farm Bill that supports nutrition security and improved health for all, nutrition education, research, and a healthful and sustainable food system. Learn more about the Academy's priorities for the Farm Bill
New Guidance from CMS Supports Increased Access to Health-related Social Needs Services
New guidance from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Children’s Health Insurance Program supports state efforts to help enrollees in both Medicaid and CHIP access health care services by addressing unmet health-related social needs. CMS aims to provide states with multiple pathways to address health-related social needs, which will allow states the flexibilities needed to cover evidence-based services and medically appropriate services, as well as the ability to define targeted populations based on either clinical or social needs. Read more here.
Academy Commends Legislation to Increase Access to Care for Prediabetes
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics commends U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (Mich.) and Shelley Capito (W.Va.) for their leadership in championing the Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act, which aims to prevent cases of diabetes and reduce related health disparities in the Medicare population.
“Access to scientifically supported medical nutrition therapy interventions by registered dietitian nutritionists for people at risk or living with diabetes could prevent and reduce complications while improving millions of Americans’ health,” says registered dietitian nutritionist Lauri Wright, the Academy’s 2023-2024 President. Read more here.
Advancing Nutrition and Dietetics Research in Global Food and Nutrition Security: A Roundtable Proceedings Report
Nutrition and dietetics practitioners play an essential role in the identification and treatment of food and nutrition insecurity and are well-positioned to advance research that supports food and nutrition security solutions. To address this important issue, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Council on Research convened a Global Food and Nutrition Security Research Task Force hosted a virtual roundtable to leverage existing information and expertise in this area and identify the need for future evidence. This proceedings paper can inform a research agenda and be leveraged by the larger scientific community to drive future funding and research opportunities on this topic.
Advocating for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program
The Academy joined more than 70 organizations in support of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Service’s proposed rule that would help to ensure more of the funding for the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program would focus TANF dollars to families with low incomes to provide a safety net and financial support.
Know your legislators and contact them about the issues that are important to you!
