Re: Help Improve Insurance Coverage for Dieticians

[Guest guest]

> A major project of the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) is

> working with insurance companies to provide reimbursement for

> dietician services.

=========

Before you start working on the insurance companies you should start

working on the dieticians to teach them how to help celiacs.

I interacted with 4 dieticians when I got my diagnosis and they were

worse than useless.

I found that the online groups and books were of far more use to me

than the dieticians. I considered all the money I spent on them to

be a total and utter waste of time

Shez

[Guest guest]

The dietician at the hospital gave my mom cream of wheat the day after her CD diagnosis!

fran

Re: Help Improve Insurance Coverage for Dieticians

> A major project of the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) is> working with insurance companies to provide reimbursement for> dietician services.=========Before you start working on the insurance companies you should start working on the dieticians to teach them how to help celiacs.I interacted with 4 dieticians when I got my diagnosis and they were worse than useless.I found that the online groups and books were of far more use to me than the dieticians. I considered all the money I spent on them to be a total and utter waste of timeShez

[Guest guest]

Tufts HMO plan covered a dietician for me, with a written Rx from

the GI doc. The dietician helped me with T2 diabetes and celiac.

I had to pay the " specialist " copay, but that was all.

I'm answering here because I loathe online surveys.

Esther in RI

>

> ...find out which companies are covering dietician services and

> which are not. The survey results will be used to educate insurance

> companies about WHY such services are so vital.

>

>

[Guest guest]

>

> The dietician at the hospital gave my mom cream of wheat the day

after her CD diagnosis!

> fran

> ....

I can just imagine!

" Oh, but this is CREAM. Are you lactose intolerant, too, dear? "

HA HA HA HA HA!!!

(Run and duck.)

And I thought it was ironic that the nurses gave me Lorna Doones

in the recovery room after my endoscopy and colonoscopy! That's

mild in comparison.

[Guest guest]

> The dietician at the hospital gave my mom cream of wheat the day

> after her CD diagnosis!

> fran

========

I had a similar experience while in hospital.

it just boggles the mind.

Shez

[Guest guest]

I fear that if you do get insurances to cover food for certain diets, that the

prices will go up. Just like prescription drugs that are marked up tens of

thousands of dollars. Then people without insurance wouldn't be able to buy

them. Other wise it would be wonderful.

Zanna

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Art_on_A_Budget/

My daily rantings!

www.zannasstory.blogspot.com

My picture trail:

www.picturetrail.com/xanadoodles

[Guest guest]

I fear that if you do get insurances to cover food for certain diets, that the

prices will go up. Just like prescription drugs that are marked up tens of

thousands of dollars. Then people without insurance wouldn't be able to buy

them. Other wise it would be wonderful.

Zanna

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Art_on_A_Budget/

My daily rantings!

www.zannasstory.blogspot.com

My picture trail:

www.picturetrail.com/xanadoodles

[Guest guest]

Before my aunt was diagnosed with celiac, she was dehydrated and under 100 lbs in the hospital. They thought she was anorexic, so kept force feeding her crackers and toast - not GF- and it immediately came back up. After my horrendous endoscopy experience (the anesthesia didn't take) they gave me saltines and sent me on my way. I threw up in the car. As far as dieticians go, I have Blue Cross here in NH and I was sent to a dietician that also works part time as a consultant with the local Hannaford grocery stores. My insurance allows me 4 visits a year without any form of co-pay but she said I could also call the supermarket and find out if she's working and she'd be happy to see me there and even help me shop! She's been instrumental in expanding their organic sections and including a designated GF area - they have so many GF brands and products now, even Kinnikinnick! It's been a great experience. My parents in Massachusetts, however, have Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare and it does not cover dieticians. Even after my father's doctor referred him to one for his high cholesterol, they charged him over $1100 for one visit! Guess I should have become a dietician! I understand if you wish to visit a specialist on your own, you'd be expected to pay but if your primary care refers you and you have a condition that you must follow a strict diet, there's no reason you should have to fork over that kind of money! Deannafran knits wrote: The dietician at the hospital gave my mom cream of wheat the day after her CD diagnosis! fran Re: Help Improve Insurance Coverage for Dieticians > A major project of the American Celiac Disease Alliance (ACDA) is> working with insurance companies to provide reimbursement for> dietician services.=========Before you start working on the insurance companies you should start working on the dieticians to teach them how to help celiacs.I interacted with 4 dieticians when I got my diagnosis and they were worse than useless.I found that the online groups and books were of far more use to me than the dieticians. I considered all the money I spent on them to be a total and utter waste of timeShez

How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

Agreed. Dietitians are not taught in depth about what foods and

ingredients are GF. I graduated with a nutrition degree and can tell

you from personal experience Celiac is not covered well. I definitely

knew more about it than my professors. I even corrected them numerous

times. One professor taught the class that rye is OK but because of

cross-contamination it is not allowed on the diet!! I corrected her

and said, " I believe you mean oats. " She didn't say a word and kept

on teaching. However, days later she corrected herself and changed

rye to oats in her presentations! LOL. It was also taught that the

GF diet is a horrible diet to have to live with... can only eat rice

cakes and corn, we can't have ANY baked goods, etc.

Dietitians are taught what happens physically when gluten is ingested

but not where to find hidden gluten in everyday foods. However, I

feel my graduating class knew more about Celiac than they would have

if I was not in their classes. And don't get me wrong. There are

many dietitians that know all the ins & outs of celiac. Just harder

to find than the general dietitians.

If anyone needs an excellent recommendation for a dietitian in MA

area, feel free to contact me!

~

in NH

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> Before you start working on the insurance companies you should

start

> working on the dieticians to teach them how to help celiacs.

>

>

> I interacted with 4 dieticians when I got my diagnosis and they

were

> worse than useless.

>

> I found that the online groups and books were of far more use to me

> than the dieticians. I considered all the money I spent on them to

> be a total and utter waste of time

>

> Shez

>