Guides

Insurance billing guides for registered dietitians

The short answerFive long-form guides that cover the questions behind most unpaid nutrition claims: which MNT code and how many units, how to order Z71.3, the condition code and the Z68 BMI code, what Medicare Part B actually covers, how to get CAQH ready for credentialing, and the whole path from NPI to a posted payment. Each one cites the CMS, ICD-10-CM, X12 or CAQH source it relies on.

By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 1 min read

Most nutrition claims that go unpaid fail for a handful of reasons: the wrong code or unit count, a diagnosis order the payer can't match to its policy, a Medicare benefit that doesn't apply to the patient, or credentialing that never finished. These guides take each of those in order.

Start with dietitian insurance billing, step by step if you are new to insurance. If you already bill and want to stop a specific denial, go to the code guides, or look the code up in the denial code lookup.

For quick answers while you bill, the CPT code finder gives the code, units, POS, modifier and diagnosis order for a visit, the MNT units calculator turns minutes into units and the BMI to Z68 code finder picks the BMI code.

All guides

Billing guide

Dietitian insurance billing, step by step

How registered dietitians bill insurance, start to finish: NPI, CAQH, credentialing, eligibility, the 837P claim, ERA posting, denials and filing limits.

 Billing guide

CPT 97802 vs 97803: when to bill each

97802 is the initial MNT visit, 97803 every follow-up. How 15-minute units are counted, when to use 97804 and G0270/G0271, and telehealth POS and modifiers.

 Billing guide

Z71.3 and Z68 BMI codes: how dietitians pair them

Z71.3 is dietary counseling. When it goes first, when the condition code (E66, E11, R73.03) must lead, and how to add adult and pediatric Z68 BMI codes.

 Billing guide

Medicare MNT coverage: what dietitians can bill

Medicare covers MNT only for diabetes, non-dialysis kidney disease and 36 months after a kidney transplant, with an MD/DO referral. Hours, codes and ABNs.

 Billing guide

CAQH for dietitians: setup, documents and attestation

How dietitians set up their CAQH profile: what to upload, how to authorize payers, re-attesting every 120 days, and the blockers that stall credentialing.

Sources

  1. CMS: National Coverage Determination 180.1, Medical Nutrition Therapy
  2. CMS: ICD-10-CM code sets and Official Guidelines
  3. X12: Claim Adjustment Reason Codes

Sources checked . Payer rules change; verify the member's benefits.

Frequently asked questions

Who are these guides for?

Registered dietitians and nutrition practices in the US that bill commercial plans, Medicare or Medicare Advantage for medical nutrition therapy. Medicaid rules vary by state and are only touched on.

Are the guides billing or legal advice?

No. They explain published rules and link to the primary sources. Payer policies and contracts differ, and code sets change every January (CPT, HCPCS) and October (ICD-10-CM), so confirm with each payer.

How often are the guides updated?

At least once a year, and whenever a code set or a Medicare rule they rely on changes. The date at the top of each guide is the last review.

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