What to expect when you go to a dietitian

Most patients report being nervous for their first session. This is NORMAL and to be expected. Seeing a dietitian is a big step in your recovery from disordered eating, managing your medical condition, and ditching diet culture. We want you to know we are right by your side to guide you on this journey.

During the first appointment, you and your dietitian will explore your past medical history, lifestyle, eating habits, diet history, relationship with food, and barriers to meeting your nutrition-related goals.

The first part of the session is devoted to collecting information on your past and getting to know you, while the second part of the session is focused on education, planning, and goal setting.

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I do not live in Illinois or Missouri. Can I still receive a telehealth visit from Branz Nutrition?

With locations in Illinois and Missouri, we offer both virtual and in-person counseling sessions. And, we are licensed to provide Telehealth nutrition therapy to patients in the following states:

Do I need a referral from my Primary Care Physician to see a Registered Dietitian?

You typically do not need a referral from your PCP to be seen by one of our dietitians.

However, if you have a medical diagnosis (eating disorder, hypertension, PCOS, heart disease, etc.) from your medical provider, please bring documentation of this to your session. This may be needed for insurance to cover your sessions.

What happens if I need to cancel/reschedule/can’t make my appointment?

If you provide the office with 48 hours or more significant notice, there is NO FEE to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

Our no-show policy states that if you are not present for your appointment (either virtual or in-person) within the first 10 minutes after the appointment start time, you are considered a no-show, and a $110 no-show fee will be automatically charged to your card on file.

Insurance does not reimburse for any no-show/late cancellation fees.

Will insurance cover my nutrition counseling visits?

Most insurance plans consider nutrition counseling a preventative service. However, some plans consider it to be a medical service.

If your plan covers nutrition counseling as a PREVENTATIVE service, your visit will typically be covered at 100% with no patient responsibility.

Suppose your plan covers a nutrition counseling visit as a MEDICAL service. In that case, your visit will be subject to your specialist copay, deductible, and/or coinsurance when the visit is billed to insurance.

At this time, we do NOT check insurance benefits on your behalf, so you must verify what your plan does or does not cover and what your portion of the cost will be.

What do self-pay/out-of-network 1:1 visits entail?

Payment will be due at the end of each visit, and your credit/debit/HSA card on file will be charged. Please inquire about our private pay and military discount rates at recovery@branznutritioncounseling.com

If we are not in network with your specific insurance plan (we take Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, and UHC), we are now offering SuperPay for Out of Network Patients.

For all other insurance carriers, we offer SuperPay, a secure, HIPAA-compliant payment option powered by SuperBill, to provide you with a FREE and simple way to get reimbursed by your insurance for out-of-network services.

When you pay for your sessions with SuperPay, SuperBill will automatically file and track your claims with your insurer. You will also have access to their expert customer support team for assistance with insurance benefits checks and claim denial resolution. To set up this payment method prior to your initial session, you can complete the 2-minute onboarding on the SuperBill website.

How often should I meet with my nutritionist?

Your registered dietitian will recommend a frequency based on your medical history, lifestyle habits, and personal goals, but the decision is up to you on how often you want to schedule visits.

What does the booking process look like?

The booking process involves two (2) routes: insurance or self-pay.

For nutrition therapy covered by insurance, download the insurance verification form to check your benefits. For self-pay or out-of-pocket patients, we just need a valid credit card on file. We will then send you standard health forms to complete. Then, you are ready to start seeing one of our expert dietitians to support you with your nutrition journey!

Can I use my health insurance?

Quite possibly! Many of our dietitians are in-network with the major health insurance companies such as BCBS, Aetna, UHC, and Cigna. We do not verify coverage, but it’s as easy as downloading this form.

My concern is not mentioned here.

Please email us at recovery@branznutritioncounseling.com and we will try our best to get back to you within 2 business days. Thank you!

What is a dietitian and how can one help my relationship with food?

As registered dietitians, we are licensed healthcare providers who have completed vigorous college degree(s). The world of eating disorders is a niched. Many of our dietitians have extra education to help those struggling with their relationship with food. We also understand and are able to provide medical nutrition therapy. Therefore, you can trust that our dietitians are passionate about helping individuals with evidence-based practices towards food freedom.

What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?

Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, that title is used very freely in our world, unfortunately. However, a dietitian has to earn a bachelor’s degree, apply and complete an accredited dietetic internship (not everyone gets placed for this, unfortunately, as it is quite competitive) and pass the registration exam. In addition, dietitians have to maintain a certain amount of continued education units every 5 years to keep our credentials to ensure we are staying up to date with the latest education surrounding various disease topics.

Why see a nutritionist?

If eating feels very chaotic, stressful, and anxiety provoking for you or maybe you were recently diagnosed with an eating disorder or other chronic disease, a dietitian can assist in making food feel less like a burden and get back to the enjoyment that food can offer by embracing food freedom.

What do I need to know before seeing a dietitian?

We just ask that you come with an open mind and know that we are on your team to help you improve your relationship with food, movement, body, and self.