Special Editorial: Retain Access to Nutrition Professionals - Contact Legislators Today

If you have ever visited, considered visiting, or plan on visiting a nutritionist at any point in your life, the following message applies to you.

In 2006, the Michigan Legislature voted to create licensing for nutritionists and dietitians, although the law has not yet been implemented, due to delays in rule-making. This law was both positive and negative for Michigan. It was positive because it allowed for both Registered Dietitians (RDs) and non-RD Nutritionists (such as myself) to become licensed, accept insurance, and work as full members of the medical team. It was negative because it would put many hundreds of nutrition practitioners out of business, because they would otherwise be “practicing nutrition without a license.” This would include many highly trained professionals, including naturopathic doctors.

This past Thursday (May 3rd), a new bill was introduced to completely repeal this dietitian/nutritionist license, which would make a license unavailable for both nutritionists and dietitians. This is in response to a recommendation from the Office of Regulatory Reinvention that said that unlicensed nutrition professionals are not a threat to public health and that the “over-regulation” hurts our economy. While repealing would allow unlicensed but highly educated nutrition professionals to stay in business, it would also stop you from getting insurance coverage from other nutrition professionals such as myself (I am currently waiting on this law to determine whether I can soon obtain insurance coverage for clients).

Rather than simply repealing or not-repealing the licensing law, which both have negative consequences, I have come up with an easy solution, which is to only strike out the one section of the law that outlaws practicing nutrition without a license. In this case, if members of the public choose to go to only a licensed practitioner (such as myself), they would be able to do so, and they could receive their full health insurance benefits. If they preferred to visit another professional who is not state licensed, such as a naturopathic doctor or a nutrition health coach, they would still have that option. No one would be forced out of business, and everyone would be happy.

The law is currently being heard in the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee. If you would like to make a difference, simply copy and paste the following passage (and make changes if you like) in an email to all of the committee members:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear House Regulatory Reform Committee Representatives:

It has come to my attention that a bill has been introduced which would repeal nutritionist/dietitian licensure in Michigan. Rather than simply repealing or not repealing, I support repealing only the section that makes it illegal to practice without a license. This would in effect make a “Title Protection Only License.” I am concerned that if nutritionists and dietitians cannot be licensed, many insurance companies will not pay for their services, which are very important. Without licensing, they would also not be regarded as full members of the medical team, and we desperately need them due to ever-increasing rates of obesity and chronic disease. However, I am also concerned that if there is no repeal, many hundreds of highly qualified, non-licensed nutrition professionals will be forced out of business in a time when businesses need to thrive in our economy.

The easy solution is to only strike out the one section of the law that outlaws practicing nutrition without a license (which is Section 333.18357 Part 1). In this case, if members of the public choose to go to only a licensed practitioner, they would be able to do so, and they could receive their full health insurance benefits. Nutritionists and dietitians would then be considered full members of the medical team. However, at the same time, no health professionals would be forced out of business, people would retain access to a variety of practitioners, and everyone would be happy.

Thank you for considering this third option rather than simply repealing or not-repealing the licensure law. This is truly what is best for Michigan.

Sincerely,

Your Name
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please send this letter to all the email addresses for the Michigan House Regulatory Reform Committee, which are:

HughCrawford@house.mi.gov

EdMcBroom@house.mi.gov

CindyDenby@house.mi.gov

TomMcMillin@house.mi.gov

AndreaLaFontaine@house.mi.gov

BruceRendon@house.mi.gov

KenYonker@house.mi.gov

TimKelly@house.mi.gov

KlintKesto@house.mi.gov

haroldhaugh@house.mi.gov

theresaabed@house.mi.gov

woodrowstanley@house.mi.gov

scottdianda@house.mi.gov

davidnathan@house.mi.gov

andyschor@house.mi.gov

Please also send this to your local house and senate members. They are at:

ellenlipton@house.mi.gov (Berkley, Huntington Woods, Oak Park, and more)

http://www.senate.michigan.gov/ima_form.asp?name=comment13&form_path=e:/...
(Berkley)

http://gregory.senatedems.com/contact-me (Oak Park and Huntington Woods)

Or if you live outside Berkley, Huntington Woods, or Oak Park, find your Representative or Senator at http://www.house.mi.gov/mhrpublic/ or http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysenator/fysenator.htm.

Thank you, and if you have any questions about this bill, please
contact me at david@nutrientbalance.com or 248-291-7722.

David Rodgers, L.N., M.S. is a Licensed Nutritionist practicing in Berkley at the Nutrient Balance Center. He specializes in helping people with Chronic Lyme Disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, weight loss, heart disease, diabetes, digestive conditions, lupus, MS, and more by using dietary changes, targeted natural supplements, detoxification, and lifestyle modification. For more information, as well as free training video seminars, see www.nutrientbalance.com.