LEGAL QUESTIONS FROM CNS CANDIDATES
**This FAQ is not a substitute for legal advice. Rebecca is not a lawyer and is only aware of Nutrition laws by state
Structure and Function Claims
Can I see international clients?
Yes, you can. Other than Canada which licenses RD’s, I am not familiar with any country you can’t work as a nutritionist.
Successful completion of the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam (CDRE) is required in all provinces except Quebec.
Membership with the national association, Dietitians of Canada, and/or a provincial regulatory body is available for nutritionists who have the same education and practical training as dietitians.
Can I see clients who are not in my home state?
Nutrition advocacy map.
Read the regulations and statutes in your state.
As an intern – you can not practice in a red state. If you are in a red state it does not matter if your client is in a green state. Exceptions are if you have another license you operate under, you set up office in a neighboring state with different laws or Georgia.
You need to follow the practice laws of the state you reside, where your office is and where your client is
Yellow state – MD, DE, ND, DC, FL, IL, and some green states NC,– best to have a supervisors licensed there.
If I can’t legally practice MNT in a state what can I do?
You can educate. Always educate.
You can make structure and function claims
You are not prescribing a diet for a disease. MNT is the treatment of disease with nutrition. To avoid this treatment model, stay in the structure and function of the body.
Instead of a low salt diet treats HBP
A low salt diet lowers blood volume which helps impvoe blood pressure
Am I required to follow HIPAA?
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
“a federal law that required the creation of national standards to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed without the patient's consent or knowledge.”
Only those practices, practitioners who are transmitting a client’s health data are not legally required to follow HIPAA unless you submit client data to an insurance company. But if you ever do, them you will be held to HIPAA.
“Nutritionist’s Playbook: A Strategic Guide to Supervised Practice and Business Kickstart” is an exclusive course for members of our Mentorship Program! The Nutritionist’s Playbook course teaches you how to start a nutrition business, run a nutrition clinical practice and meet the SPE requirements to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS).
Have questions? We’ve got you! Check out our Frequently Asked Questions about our personalized nutrition Mentorship Program and meeting the SPE requirements.
Comments