What is medical nutrition therapy (MNT)?
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is nutrition assessment, counseling and follow-up for a diagnosed medical condition, delivered by a registered dietitian or qualified nutrition professional. Medicare Part B covers it for people with diabetes or kidney disease, or after a kidney transplant in the last 36 months, when a physician refers them. For dietitians, that referral rule shapes the whole marketing plan.
- Medicare covers MNT for diabetes, kidney disease and kidney transplant within the last 36 months.
- A physician referral is required, and eligible beneficiaries pay nothing for covered MNT.
- MNT is billed with its own CPT codes, such as 97802 for the initial assessment.
- Marketing MNT means winning physician referrals and explaining coverage, not only finding patients online.
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What counts as medical nutrition therapy?
MNT is individualized nutrition care for a medical condition: an assessment, a nutrition diagnosis, an intervention plan and follow-up visits. It differs from general wellness coaching because it is tied to a diagnosis and documented like other clinical care. Registered dietitian nutritionists, credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, provide it.
How it is billed
- 97802: initial individual assessment and intervention, in 15-minute units.
- 97803: individual reassessment and follow-up interventions.
- 97804: group MNT, in 30-minute units.
- G0270: reassessment after a second referral in the same year for a change in diagnosis, condition or treatment.
Most states license or certify dietitians, and rules vary, so check your state board before describing who may provide MNT.
What does Medicare cover for medical nutrition therapy?
Medicare Part B covers MNT for beneficiaries with diabetes or kidney disease, or who had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months. A doctor must refer the patient, and only a registered dietitian or qualifying nutrition professional can provide it. According to Medicare.gov, eligible beneficiaries pay nothing for these services.
The federal rule at 42 CFR 410.132 sets annual hour limits, combines MNT and diabetes self-management training hours in the first year of training, and lets a physician authorize more hours when the diagnosis, condition or treatment changes. Hour limits and documentation details should be confirmed with your biller.
Medicare also separates MNT from diabetes self-management training (DSMT), a related benefit with its own rules. Patients and referring offices often confuse the two, so a short explanation on your coverage page saves calls and avoids billing surprises. Say which of the two your practice provides.
Commercial plans and Medicaid set their own MNT rules, and they often cover more conditions than Medicare. Coverage pages must not assume Medicare rules apply to every patient.
How do dietitians market medical nutrition therapy?
MNT is referral-led. Because Medicare requires a physician referral, and many commercial plans favor one, the most valuable marketing often targets primary care, endocrinology and nephrology offices. Patient-facing content then explains coverage and makes the referral step easy.
| Channel | Goal | What to build |
|---|---|---|
| Physician referrals | Steady referred patients | One-page referral guide, fax and e-referral details, progress notes back to the physician |
| Search | Patients checking coverage | Condition-specific MNT pages and an insurance page listing plans accepted |
| Google Business Profile | Local discovery | Services listing MNT for diabetes and kidney disease; telehealth noted if offered |
| Retention and follow-up | Consent-based reminders and educational content |
See our guides to marketing insurance-covered nutrition counseling and building physician referrals.
What mistakes do dietitians make when marketing MNT?
The most common mistake is promising free care to everyone. Covered MNT is free only for eligible Medicare beneficiaries with a referral, and commercial plans differ. Say who qualifies, explain how to get a referral, and offer to verify benefits before the first visit.
- Using "MNT" for wellness or weight programs that are not tied to a diagnosis.
- Making disease outcome claims; nutrition claims still need competent and reliable evidence under FTC standards.
- Sending condition details from intake forms to analytics or ad platforms.
- No measurement of referral sources, so the practice cannot see which physicians send patients.
What to measure
Track referred patients, referring offices and visits completed per referral. Add the share of referred patients who book within two weeks, and the reasons others do not, such as coverage confusion or scheduling. Those numbers show whether to spend the next month on physician outreach, intake speed or coverage content. For a full plan, see our dietitian marketing agency page.
Related pages from the US team
Dietitian Marketing Agency USA
How Ichelon Consulting US markets dietitian practices, with a BAA from day one.
Marketing insurance-covered nutrition counseling
Coverage pages, verification and intake.
Physician referrals for dietitians
How to build and track referral relationships.
US healthcare marketing glossary
Every term, defined in plain English.
Every practice welcome — Goals-Driven engagements from $499/mo
We benchmark your last 90 days, agree monthly goals with you, and track them live on Ichelon Agency OS with a report every Monday. Performance-Linked Payout Models are available. Our US leadership is based in Dallas, and strategy calls run in US business hours.
Common questions
Does Medicare cover medical nutrition therapy?
Yes. Medicare Part B covers medical nutrition therapy for people with diabetes or kidney disease, or who had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months. A doctor must refer the patient, a registered dietitian or qualifying nutrition professional must provide it, and eligible beneficiaries pay nothing.
Who can provide medical nutrition therapy?
For Medicare, only a registered dietitian or a nutrition professional who meets Medicare's requirements can provide MNT. Registered dietitian nutritionists are credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, and most states also license or certify dietitians, with rules that vary by state.
What CPT codes are used for medical nutrition therapy?
MNT is commonly billed with CPT 97802 for the initial individual assessment, 97803 for individual reassessments and follow-up, and 97804 for group sessions. Medicare uses G0270 for reassessment after a second referral in the same year. Confirm current codes and payer rules with your biller.
How can a dietitian get more MNT referrals?
Focus on the physicians who manage diabetes and kidney disease: primary care, endocrinology and nephrology. Give them a simple referral process, send progress notes back, and make coverage easy to explain. Track which offices refer so outreach goes where it works.
A note on this guide: it explains marketing practice, not legal advice. Rules on privacy, advertising and insurance change and vary by state, so confirm anything compliance-related with your own counsel.
Want more referred MNT patients?
A 30-minute call with the US team. We'll review your coverage pages, referral process and local search for MNT.