Frequently Asked Questions — Modern Nutrition NW

General questions

What is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), and how is that different from a nutritionist?

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, RDN, is a legally protected title for credentialed practitioners who have been trained in the field of food and nutrition science. Learn more about RDNs and NDTRs via EatRight.org.

Why see a dietitian?

If you are seeking guidance with food and nutrition, a registered dietitian nutritionist specializes in providing personalized nutrition care plans. Nutrition support is a valuable resource for those seeking preventive care and/or to address specific nutrition-related diagnoses such as diabetes, hypertension, etc.

Appointment-related questions

What can I expect from follow-up nutrition counseling appointments?

Follow-up appointments are when we begin implementing a plan to address your primary nutrition concerns and goals identified from the initial assessment. Here are some examples of what might occur during a follow-up:

Addressing food and nutrition myths
Creating short-term goals
Identifying barriers to meeting goals
Skill building to create health-promoting behaviors
Connecting to resources
Reviewing food intake and recommendations

What can I expect from an initial nutrition counseling appointment?

During your initial assessment, we will cover the following areas:

Primary nutrition concerns and goals
Food, nutrition, and body-related questions
Past medical history
Medications & supplements
Food intake (preferences, allergies, intolerances, restrictions)
Gastrointestinal health
Recent lab results, if available
Physical activity history
Diet history (eating out frequency, meal prep and planning, thoughts, and patterns about food, nutrition, and body)

How long are appointments?

Initial assessments are typically 90 minutes.

Follow-up appointments are typically 60 minutes or less.

What if I live outside of Oregon, can I still be a patient of Modern Nutrition NW?

Yes, the following states are available to scheduled telehealth appointments for clients living outside Oregon:

Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
New Jersey
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Wisconsin

Do you offer telehealth and in-office appointments?

Yes, Modern Nutrition NW offers both in-office and telehealth appointments. In-office appointments are located in Oregon City, OR.

Cost-related questions

Do you offer self-pay counseling options?

Yes, Nutrition Therapy Packages are available at a prompt pay rate when insurance benefits are unavailable.

Single Appointment, Initial Assessment

$300

Includes a 90-minute assessment of past medical history, medications, and supplement routine, current eating patterns, and addressing primary health and nutrition concerns. Clients will receive nutrition recommendations based on the findings.

3 Session Personal Nutrition Package

$600 — includes the Initial Assessment plus 2 60-minute follow-up appointments.

This package is designed for clients who want a “nutrition check-in''. It is ideal for clients who have specific food and nutrition questions and desire education with minimal behavior change support. In addition to the recommendations obtained during the initial assessment, this package also includes a multi-24-hour diet recall assessment and short-term goals to achieve primary nutrition goals.

All Sessions are scheduled when purchasing a package and must be completed within 3 months. Schedule changes are okay with 24 hours notice of the upcoming appointment.

6 Session Personal Nutrition Package

$1050 — includes the Initial Assessment plus 5 60-minute follow-up appointments.
(half due at the first visit, the remainder collected at the fourth follow-up)

This package is designed to provide a comprehensive evaluation and personal recommendations based on the findings. Follow-up appointments will be structured to share information most relevant to the focus areas determined from the initial assessment. This package is perfect for you if you are looking for a food and nutrition expert to help clear the noise of fad dieting and trends, provide you with credible resources and information, and ultimately help to guide you and support you on your path to improved health and wellness.

All sessions are scheduled at the time of purchasing a package and must be completed within 6 months. Schedule changes are ok with a 24 hour notice of the upcoming appointment. Sessions are generally scheduled one or two weeks apart, giving you the opportunity to work with the new information in your personal life and receive timely feedback and support.

This course must be completed within 6 months.

12 Session Personal Nutrition Package

$1,800 — includes the Initial Assessment plus 11 60-minute follow-up appointments.
(half due at the first visit, the remainder collected at the sixth follow-up)

This package accommodates clients looking for more in-depth knowledge and behavior change practice. In addition to the features of the 6-session package, the added follow-up appointments will provide an opportunity for a more interactive relationship. You will build upon the knowledge gained in the first half of the package with more time to explore food and nutrition and how that translates to health and well-being in your life. As your registered dietitian nutritionist, I will guide you through the personal challenges you face in creating lasting changes as you begin to apply this new knowledge in your everyday life and navigate holidays, vacations, and work/schedule stressors.

All sessions are scheduled when purchasing a package and must be completed within 12 months. Schedule changes are okay with a 24-hour notice of the upcoming appointment. Sessions are generally scheduled one or two weeks apart, giving you the opportunity to work with the new information in your personal life and receive timely feedback and support.

This course must be completed within 1 year.

Single Appointment, Follow-up session

$200

Single follow-up appointments may be purchased for existing clients who have already completed an initial assessment.

What is the cost of nutrition counseling?

If you have health insurance, it is a good idea to check the benefits for nutrition counseling. I recommend calling your insurance to ask the following questions:

Do I have preventive benefits that cover nutrition counseling with ICD-10 code Z71.3?
What are my benefits for nutrition counseling with CPT codes 97802 and 97803?
Do I have any limits for the number of visits or hours spent with my dietitian per year?
Do I have any out-of-network benefits if I choose a dietitian that is out of network for my plan?

See the insurance-related frequently asked questions for more info regarding using your insurance benefits.

Insurance-related questions

What if I don’t have insurance benefits for nutrition counseling?

Modern Nutrition NW offers personal nutrition packages at a prompt pay discount rate when insurance benefits are unavailable. See the cost-related frequently asked questions for more info regarding using your insurance benefits.

Can I use my insurance benefits for nutrition counseling?

Modern Nutrition NW accepts many insurance plans. To get an estimated out-of-pocket cost or understand your benefits for nutrition counseling, call your insurance to ask the following questions:

IMPORTANT!! Write down the date, time, and representative's name, and ask for a reference number for the call.

1. What are my benefits for nutrition counseling, using CPT codes 97802 (initial visit) and 97803 (follow-up visit) with ICD 10 code Z71.3?‍

* (CPT codes are specific to dietitians)
** (Z71.3 code is for preventative nutrition counseling and how I can bill insurance without a medical diagnosis code from your doctor)

2. What are my benefits for nutrition counseling using the CPT codes 97802 and 97803 with a medical diagnosis from my doctor?

Ask about any relevant nutrition-related medical diagnoses provided by your doctor, such as high blood pressure I10, high cholesterol E78.5, diabetes E11.9, etc.

Additional questions to ask about your plan specifics:

Is Krista Schaefer an in-network provider? Her NPI # is 1033392618.
Is there a limit to the number of visits or hours I can see my dietitian?
Do I have a co-pay or co-insurance for nutrition counseling visits?
Are nutrition counseling visits subject to my deductible?
Do my plan benefits change with telehealth vs. office appointments?