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Meeting our Dietitian Nutritionists

Sarah Chesky, a registered dietitian nutritionist at Springfield Hospital, explains how proper nutrition and a balanced diet can improve your overall health.

Meet Our Dietitians and Nutritionists

What Is Medical Nutrition Therapy?

Medical nutrition therapy is a program designed to help you take control of your nutrition needs. A registered dietitian will assist you in setting personal goals and creating a plan to improve the quality of your life by providing the education you need. Dietitians have specialized knowledge in nutrition and nutrition-related disease management. Some areas of expertise include, but are not limited to:

• Weight management for adults and children (ages 16 and over)
• Allergies and food intolerances
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• Heart disease (high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides)
• Pregnancy and lactation
• Specialty nutrition for cancer, kidney disease, and liver disease
• Sports nutrition

About Your Appointments

The following information will help you understand what services Crozer Health provides during a nutrition counseling appointment, how long the sessions last, insurance information requirements, what you must bring prior to your visit and where you need to go first at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. In addition, please refer to the Patient Checklist provided for you to ensure that you are well-prepared in advance for your appointment.

What Should I Expect from Meeting with a Dietitian?

You may schedule one session or multiple sessions to assist with various nutrition-related needs. Sessions may include:

• Assessment of nutrition needs

• Planning meals

• Reading food labels

• Cooking techniques

• Dining out tips

• Other needs as identified by you or your dietitian

How Long Is a Session?

• Initial Medical Nutrition Therapy individual visits are 60 minutes.

Follow-up appointments are available as needed, and are recommended for 30-60 minutes every one to three months pending the individual’s needs.

Is Medical Nutrition Therapy Covered by Insurance?

• By checking with your individual insurance company, you can verify whether your specific medical condition is covered for medical nutrition therapy. If asked for a procedure code, 97802 and 97803 are used for initial and follow-up visits, respectively.
• Medicare covers 100 percent of Medical Nutrition Therapy for people with diabetes or kidney disease before dialysis. Medicare does not cover Medical Nutrition Therapy unless you have diabetes with a fasting glucose over 126 or random glucose over 200 mg. Kidney disease without dialysis is also covered. Medicare provides three hours initially, and two hours each additional year.

What Do I Ask My Insurance Company to See If It’s a Covered Benefit?

When calling your insurance company, ask if Medical Nutrition Therapy is covered under your plan. Make sure you inquire specifically what diagnosis is covered, and how many visits you are entitled to. If you are asked for the procedure code, respond by stating, 97802 or 97803.

Do I Need a Referral from My Doctor?

A referral order from your doctor or other healthcare provider is necessary for all appointments. Orders given by your doctor provide the dietitian with important medical information so she can meet your individual needs, and so you can receive insurance reimbursement.

Please note, some insurances require referral authorizations in addition to the order mentioned above.  It is the patient's responsibility to know their insurance coverage and whether an authorization is required.  If an authorization is required, the patient must call their doctor to have them submit the authorization through the patient's insurance company.  The patient then must request that a copy of the authorization be faxed to 610-328-8922 prior to your appointment. If you have any questions about this, please call 610-328-8920.