Assessing fees for nutritional counseling.

Questionnaires from hospital dietetic departments in the South and Midwest were used to make recommendations for fee assessment for nutritional counseling. About one-half charged for outpatient diet instruction, while only 9 percent charged for inpatients. The amount charged ranged from $2.50 to $25 per instruction, with a mean amount of $12.57 per hour. Recommendations for assessing fees for nutritional counseling included defining routine nutritional care. Nutritional counseling is not reimbursed by Medicare and Medicaid and only to a limited extent by private insurance companies. More studies are needed to establish the cost and benefits of nutrition services before reimbursement will be routinely provided by government and private health insurance.