As a pediatric gastroenterologist, I take care of children with diseases of the digestive tract. Medical nutrition is often the treatment of choice for these conditions. Insurance denial is particularly frustrating in the case of a motivated child who intends to consume the prescribed nutrition by mouth but is told that he/she would require a feeding tube to have this therapy covered by insurance.
Vikram Christian, MD
EOSINOPHILIC DISORDERS · Minnesota · Provider Stories
As a pediatric gastroenterologist, I take care of children with diseases of the digestive tract. Medical nutrition is often the ...
When patients' mental health deteriorates because they cannot follow their diet, they often lose their job and get incredibly frustrated with the system.
Sue, Michigan Dietitian
Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Conditions on the RUSP · Michigan · Provider Stories
There are so many patients (especially PKU patients) who would like to improve their health status, including mental health, but ...
Our clinic's desire to bring the best possible care and outcomes to our patients is directly related to their ability to get necessary medical foods. Many who are not able to get medical foods are not able to follow their restricted diets, leading to poor outcomes and disease associated morbidities.
Ashley, Utah Metabolic Nurse Practitioner
Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Conditions on the RUSP · Provider Stories · Utah
Medical food practice affects our practice in several ways. First, and foremost, our desire to bring the best possible care and ...
A young couple with a child with PKU in my care made the difficult decision to move to another state and region where they would be able to depend on full medical food and formula coverage and to afford the cost of just one child with PKU.
Sarah, Washington DC Nurse Practitioner
Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Conditions on the RUSP · Provider Stories · Washington DC
Staff time alone is the most major barrier. We are fortunate to have a Metabolic Clinic Manager to keep on top of all the insurance ...
My biggest frustration with the lack of coverage of medical foods is that these are NOT foods like those that we purchase from our grocer, they ARE medical treatments just like medications. The party with the condition CANNOT be healthy without them in the exact same manner that a person with diabetes type 1 cannot live without insulin.
Jennifer, Idaho Dietitian
Idaho · Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Conditions on the RUSP · Provider Stories
As a clinical dietitian in a clinic setting more than 75% of my time was spent managing covering for medical foods. These tasks ...
The biggest frustration as a provider is knowing that many patients are not receiving the care they need to manage their conditions. The second biggest frustration is that even when an insurance “covers” medical foods, it may still not be obtainable since many ‘in-network’ distributors will not supply the needed products.
Stephanie, Florida Dietitian
Florida · Inborn Errors of Metabolism and Conditions on the RUSP · Provider Stories
Coverage of medical foods is a large part of my practice in both my time-effort and my care recommendations for patients. For every ...
