- Free PDF
- Highmark
- Updated October 2026
What does Highmark pay a dietitian for? The Highmark code sheet
The short answer. 97802 once for a new patient, then 97803 (or 97804 for groups), billed by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional, one MNT code per date of service. On video, POS 10 for a patient at home and 02 elsewhere, paid at parity with in-person visits.
- Every rule links to its sourceThe payer's own policy, so you can check it before a claim goes out.
- Last verified October 22, 2026Every source opened that day.
- Made by a dietitian billing personBy Javier Alvarez, from filing claims for two dietitians.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 2 min read
| Codes | 97802, 97803, 97804, G0270, G0271 (RP-076). The Pennsylvania medical policy also lists 99402 to 99404 for preventive counseling |
|---|---|
| Telehealth | POS 02 outside the home, POS 10 in the home, on 1500 claims (RP-046, version effective September 1, 2026). Paid at parity with in-person. The policy spells out GT, 93 or 95 for facility claims |
| Visit limits | None in RP-076 or V-44-017 as of October 22, 2026 |
| Allowed amount | Your Highmark contract |
| Last verified | October 22, 2026, every source opened that day |
What does Highmark pay a dietitian for?
| Highmark (commercial and Medicare Advantage, PA, WV, DE, NY markets) | |
|---|---|
| Codes listed | 97802, 97803, 97804, G0270, G0271 (RP-076). The Pennsylvania medical policy also lists 99402 to 99404 for preventive counseling |
| Who may bill | A registered dietitian or nutrition professional, or a facility with their assignment. Anyone else is denied, and the denial can't be billed to the member |
| Diagnoses listed | The Pennsylvania policy V-44-017 names conditions, not codes: diabetes, lipid disorders, cardiovascular and kidney conditions, GI disorders, nutritional deficiencies and others. Obesity is covered "per the member's group or individual benefit program". Preventive counseling needs dietary counseling (our reading: Z71.3) plus hyperlipidemia |
| Telehealth | POS 02 outside the home, POS 10 in the home, on 1500 claims (RP-046, version effective September 1, 2026). Paid at parity with in-person. The policy spells out GT, 93 or 95 for facility claims |
| Units | Per 15 minutes; one MNT code per date, and modifiers don't bypass that edit |
| Referral, prior auth | Not addressed in RP-076 or V-44-017 |
| Visit limits | None in RP-076 or V-44-017 as of October 22, 2026 |
| Allowed amount | Your Highmark contract |
| Our paid-claim data | Pending |
Verified on October 22, 2026. Source: Highmark RP-076, Highmark RP-046, Highmark V-44-017. V-44-017 was last reviewed in 2017.
What is on the Highmark PDF?
The PDF holds only Highmark: its codes, diagnoses, telehealth POS and modifier, units, limits, the date we opened each policy and the link to it. The other five payers have their own sheet, so you print only the one a claim needs. See the sheet for every payer.
How many units does a visit bill?
Short answer: One unit per 15 minutes of face-to-face time, counted from 8 minutes. That is CMS's table for 15-minute timed codes, and the same midpoint rule CPT uses. A commercial contract can count units differently or cap them per visit, and the contract wins.
| Face-to-face minutes | 97802 / 97803 / G0270 units |
|---|---|
| Under 8 | 0 (not billable) |
| 8 to 22 | 1 |
| 23 to 37 | 2 |
| 38 to 52 | 3 |
| 53 to 67 | 4 |
| 68 to 82 | 5 |
Group codes (97804, G0271) are per 30 minutes. The MNT units calculator does the arithmetic for any visit length. Source: CMS Claims Processing Manual, ch. 5 Section 20.2, verified October 22, 2026.
