The Board recognizes that anyone who has diabetes should be working with a registered dietitian or a registered nutritionist. After-all, managing blood glucose levels requires an understanding of how to balance food, exercise, and medication. As every diabetic is aware, unhealthy eating patterns contribute to the risk of complications such as cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure. Talking to a registered dietitian or registered nutritionists will help a diabetic use what they eat and drink as a tool for blood glucose control now and your best health later.
To that end, effective July 1, 2019, the Board of Trustees have created a registered dietician and/or registered nutritionist benefit for participants with diabetes.
For the newly diagnosed, who generally need a crash course in eating for diabetes management, this provision will allow up to six (6) visits with a registered dietician or registered nutritionist during the first twelve months of diagnosis.
As participants who have had diabetes for years can also benefit from some one-on-one time with a registered dietitian or registered nutritionist, the Trustees have created a provision that will allow three (3) visits per calendar year.
Participating dietician charges will be subject to the deductible and payable at 90% of the negotiated rate.
Non-participating dietician charges will be subject to the deductible and payable at 70% of 130% of the Plans reasonable allowed amount.
Warning: Any visit to a dietician will be combined with any service performed by a nutritionist not to exceed the number of annual visits previously described with this section.