Medicare MNT coverage: codes, telehealth and limits
The short answerMedicare pays a dietitian for MNT only for diabetes, kidney disease or a kidney transplant in the last 36 months, with a referral from the treating doctor. Bill 97802 once, then 97803, with G0270 or G0271 for hours beyond the yearly base after a second referral. The base is 3 hours the first calendar year and 2 hours each year after.
By Javier Alvarez · Updated · 1 min read
1 row: Medicare. Public policy, not the member's benefits.
Medicare
Original Medicare (Part B) · All states
| 97802 | Listed (once, for the first visit) [1] |
|---|---|
| 97803 | Listed (every later individual visit) [1] |
| G0270 | Listed (hours beyond the base, after a second referral in the same year) [1] |
| G0271 | Listed (group, after a second referral in the same year) [1] |
| Diagnoses | Diabetes and kidney disease, or a kidney transplant in the last 36 months. [2] |
| Telehealth POS | POS 02 or 10. POS 10 pays the non-facility rate. Patients can be at home through December 31, 2027. [3][4][5] |
| Telehealth modifier | 95 for audio and video, 93 for audio only. [3] |
| Visit limits | 3 hours the first calendar year, 2 hours each year after. Unused hours don't carry over. More hours need a second referral (G0270, G0271). [2][1] |
| Referral and prior auth | A referral from the treating doctor is required. [2] |
| Who can bill | Registered dietitians and nutrition professionals. Dietitians are eligible telehealth practitioners. [4] |
| Payment | 2026 national rate paid to a dietitian: $31.23 per unit of 97802, $26.97 per unit of 97803 or G0270. The patient pays nothing. [6][2] |
- CMS: Medicare Claims Processing Manual ch. 4, section 300 Medical Nutrition Therapy (Rev. 12694, 06-21-24), checked October 30, 2026
- Medicare.gov: Medical nutrition therapy services, checked October 22, 2026
- CMS: Change Request 13582 (POS 02 or 10 paired with modifier 95 or 93, PDF), checked October 22, 2026
- CMS MLN901705: Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring, December 2025 (PDF), checked October 22, 2026
- CMS: Telehealth FAQ, updated 10/8/2026 (home telehealth through Dec 31, 2027, PDF), checked October 22, 2026
- CMS: PFS Relative Value Files, RVU26D, checked October 22, 2026
Check a Medicare claim against the row
Before a Medicare claim goes out, compare it with the row above: the code is one the policy lists, the place of service and modifier match for a video visit, and the units fit the limit. Change the filters to compare Medicare with another payer, then download the PDF of what you see. More on the Medicare coverage guide and the one-page Medicare code sheet.