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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | May 29, 2019 02:59 PM |
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| From: | Representative Thomas L. Mehaffie, III |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Updates to the Professional Nursing Law for Dietitian Nutritionists - Prior HB 2721 |
Since 2002, when the Professional Nursing Law was revised to include Licensed Dietitian Nutritionists, the practice of dietetics and nutrition has evolved significantly. Language updates are needed in sections pertaining to title protection and scope of practice. Licensed dietitian nutritionists (LDN) and Licensed Nutritionists (LN) assess, counsel, and evaluate the diets and nutritional health needs of their patients, which is crucial for the treatment and/or management of specific diseases and overall wellbeing. Unfortunately, some individuals take advantage of consumers by falsely claiming to be dietitians and/or nutritionists without appropriate education and training. This may cause delays in receiving appropriate advice and care for diet-related disease, potentially decreasing quality of life and increasing healthcare costs. Patients need to be protected against this fraud. In response, this bill will expand title protection and provide practice protection for licensed dietitian nutritionists. It will more clearly outline the range of functions and responsibilities of dietitian nutritionists. Specifically, the language will revise the Professional Nursing Law by: · Including giving title protection to the following titles: nutritionist, dietitian, dietician, and dietitian nutritionist, among others. · Outlining the scope of practice for licensed dietitian nutritionists (LDN) and licensed nutritionists (LN); · Clarifying circumstances under which an LDN or LN license is required; · Providing exceptions to the license requirement including: students working under the supervision of licensed dietitian nutritionists, retailers who do not hold themselves to be dietitian nutritionists, and weight control service providers, among others.
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Introduced as HB1802