Medical nutrition therapy (MNT): Reimbursement for nutrition intervention in chronic kidney disease and its impact on the renal care community

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) may be a new term to healthcare providers, even to dietitians. But, with the creation of MNT Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and the passage of legislation that includes MNT as a Medicare benefit for patients with chronic kidney disease (non-dialysis) and diabetes, it will soon be widely recognized in the renal care community. Medical nutrition therapy has already been recognized in several government and NKF-K/DOQI publications as being necessary for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease. Additionally, the registered dietitian-particularly the one who possesses renal nutrition expertise-has been recognized as the most qualified healthcare professional to deliver MNT. The provision of MNT to chronic kidney disease patients, as part of ongoing medical management, has been shown to improve the nutritional status of these patients.