Dietitian Services Rate Increases
Effective for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2024, the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is updating the payment methodology and reimbursement rates for dietitian services. Dietitian providers are advised SCDHHS also announced significant updates to the nutritional counseling benefit for full-benefit Healthy Connections Medicaid members will be made in the Physician Services provider manual. Those changes are described in Medicaid bulletin MB# 23-060 and are also effective for dates of service on or after Jan. 1, 2024.
The reimbursement rates for registered dietitians will be set at 75% of the 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule and are shown in the table below. Please note an additional procedure code has been added for group nutrition therapy as described in Medicaid bulletin MB# 23-060.
| Procedure Code | Description | Jan. 1, 2024 Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 97802 | Medical nutrition therapy; initial assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes | $26.50 |
| 97803 | Medical nutrition therapy; re-assessment and intervention, individual, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes | $23.05 |
| 97804 | Medical nutrition therapy; group (2 or more individual(s), each 30 minutes | $12.29 |
The reimbursement rates will be updated in the Other Professional Dietitian fee schedule located on SCDHHS’ website by Jan. 1, 2024.
Providers should direct questions related to this bulletin to the Provider Service Center (PSC). PSC representatives can be reached at (888) 289-0709 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Providers can also submit an online inquiry at: http://www.scdhhs.gov/contact-us.
South Carolina’s Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are responsible for the coverage and reimbursement related to the services described in this bulletin for Healthy Connections Medicaid members who are enrolled in an MCO.
Resources Providers Can Use to Help with Medicaid Member Annual Reviews
As SCDHHS continues its federally required review of Medicaid member eligibility, a process frequently referred to as “unwinding,” it is reminding providers of resources available to them that can help with this process. SCDHHS has produced several member-facing communications and marketing items and is encouraging providers to post its “submit your review, when it’s time to renew” flyer in patient-facing areas. The flyer is available for download from SCDHHS’ website in English and in Spanish along with other provider resources on SCDHHS’ annual reviews website.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have also produced outreach and educational resources about this process that are available on their website.
Thank you for your continued support of the South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid program.