State Advocacy

UAND is involved in many advocacy efforts at the state level.  The information below provides a summary of these activities.

Licensure (see linked page)

Malnutrition Awareness Week

UAND’s Advocacy Pillar worked with Governor Herbert’s office to recognize September 23-27, 2019 as Malnutrition Awareness Week in Utah, to coincide with a national effort through the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. Read the letter your UAND Advocacy Pillar sent to the governor’s office here, and read the declaration here.

Order Writing Privileges

The Utah Administrative Code contains regulations for healthcare facilities licensed to provide services in Utah. Hospitals must meet the minimum standards specified in Rule R432-100 General Hospital Standards, and nursing homes must meet the minimum standards specified in Rule R432-150 Nursing Care Facilities. Previously, language in these rules prevented RDNs from obtaining order writing privileges in hospitals and nursing homes in this state. The Utah Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics worked with the Utah Medical Association to propose new wording to change these rules to the Utah Department of Health’s Health Facility Licensing Committee. The new rules went into effect on May 16, 2017! This will allow RDNs to work collaboratively with physicians at the top of their scope of practice to ensure quality, timely nutrition care is provided to patients and residents. The governing body that provides oversight at the healthcare facility must still approve policies and procedures specific to that facility authorizing privileges for RDNs, within all applicable federal and state laws. Click here for the new wording and more information.


Speakers:

Wendy Phillips, MS, RD, CNSC, CLE, FAND
UAND State Policy Representative

Robin Aufdenkampe, MS, RD
UAND President

Objectives:
After this session, participants will be able to…
1. List all applicable laws and regulations
2. Describe the difference between acute care hospital and long term care facility regulations.
3. Describe the difference between credentialing and privileging.
4. Design a competency assessment plan.

Access the handout here.

MNT Reimbursement Guidance Documents

Check out the guidance provided by UAND’s Reimbursement Representative regarding reimbursement for medical nutrition therapy visits provided by RDNs in Utah.

"Nuts and Bolts of Getting Paid in Utah” from the 2017 Annual Meeting by Nikki Kendrick, UAND’s Reimbursement Representative.

Reporting Tool for Stories of Harm and Success

(coming soon)

Legislative Guidance 101

Learn more about how a bill becomes a law in Utah – this will be especially important to know if we decide to pursue licensure for RDNs in the future.

Legislative Day

On February 13, 2018, UAND’s Advocacy Pillar again hosted a successful breakfast for the Utah Legislature in the Salt Lake City state capitol building. Click here to see a summary of the event!

On January 25, 2017, UAND held a successful Legislative Breakfast for the House of Representatives and the Senate at the Salt Lake City Capitol building. We enjoyed meeting with the Representatives and Senators – click here to see a summary and pictures from the event! We created a Healthy Tips for the Legislative Session calendar for them to use. Click here to get a copy for yourself!

Lieutenant Governor Cox also sent a letter to the Senators and Representatives encouraging them to utilize RDNs as their nutrition experts to kick off the legislative session! Read a copy of the letter here .

Dietitian Legislative Ambassadors

Please see the attached invitation to personally become a Dietitian Legislative Ambassador (DLA) for UAND to help build and sustain our ability to influence public policy by providing consistent contact with state legislators!