Legislature(1999 - 2000)
05/10/1999 01:45 PM House FIN
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* first hearing in first committee of referral
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SENATE BILL NO. 88
An Act relating to licensure of dietitians and
nutritionists; and providing for an effective date.
HANS NEIDIG, STAFF, SENATOR DAVE DONLEY, stated that SB 88
would codify professional title licensure of dietitians and
nutritionists, while helping to ensure the quality of such
services and protecting consumers.
SB 88 represents sound public policy because it protects
Alaskans from the potential harm that could be caused by
untrained individuals working in the field. This would be
accomplished by having standards which differentiate between
individuals who are qualified nutritionists and dietitians
and those who are not.
Mr. Neidig noted that SB 88 contains provisions which ensure
that individuals practicing nutrition, obtain a bachelor's,
masters or doctoral degrees from an accredited school to
work in Alaska.
Mr. Neidig advised that the licensing of dietitians and
nutritionist enables the public to identify individuals who
are qualified by education, experience and examination to
provide nutrition care services. Recognition defines the
dietetics and nutrition practice which includes the
integration and application of the principles derived from
the sciences of nutrition, biochemistry, food physiology,
management and behavioral and social sciences to achieve and
maintain the health of the citizens of Alaska. He pointed
out that the bill would not establish a new board. The
licensing program will be conducted by the Division of
Occupational Licensing and will have no cost to the State.
Representative Foster asked if the nutritionists that live
in village areas would be responsible to fly to Anchorage
every couple of years to update their certification. Mr.
Neidig replied that there is no examination requirement.
CATHERINE REARDON, DIRECTOR, DIVISION OF OCCUPATIONAL
LICENSING, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
corrected that there is an examine for only the initial
license; there is no obligation to take it more than once.
The applicant will be paying for the national test directly,
not through State government and that the test would be
offered only in Anchorage.
(Tape Change HFC 99 - 122, Side 2).
Representative Foster voiced concern for those individual
nutritionists who have been working in the field, who do not
have the accredited dietitian or nutritionist requirements.
He asked if they would be "grandfathered" in. Ms. Reardon
stated that would need to be a policy decision for the
Legislature. A "practice" restriction could be placed in
the legislation, or employers could have the option to
change the titles of those employees.
LINDA WILD, ALASKA DIETETIC ASSOCIATION, JUNEAU, testified
that the Alaska Dietetic Association strongly supports the
legislation. Currently, thirty-nine states have some form
of licensing of dietitians and nutritionists.
There are two main reasons for supporting the license
dietitians and nutritionists. The proposed legislation
recently reintroduced in Congress that would provide
coverage in the outpatient portion of the federally funded
Medicare program for medical nutrition therapy services, a
75 cent phrase for nutrition therapy, furnished by
registered dietitians and qualified nutrition professionals.
Currently, Medicare provides reimbursement for nutrition
services only in portion A, or in the hospital portion of
the program.
Ms. Wild continued, the reason dietitians care about this is
that the proposed legislation stipulates that reimbursable
services be provided by dietitians or nutrition
professionals who are licensed in the states in which they
work. She stressed that dietitians and nutritionists must
be part of the health care team, and they need to be
licensed.
The proposed change to Medicare is one of the big reasons
there has been a push in recent years to license dietitians
and nutritionists, in addition to the increasing emphasis on
preventative health care. Good nutrition is a big part of
that prevention.
Ms. Wild continued, an additional reason for the requesting
the licensure is professional recognition. Licensure will
put nutrition professionals on an equal footing with other
professionals. The bill before the Committee is known as
"title licensure" or "title protection". This means that
only those professionals meeting the educational and
experience criteria will be licensed as dietitians and
nutritionists. The bill would hold minimum qualifications
for professionals in the field and would provide guidance to
the public.
Representative Grussendorf asked if there was work
experience which could fulfill criteria needed to obtain the
license. Ms. Wild replied that staff working in the school
system is not required to be licensed, however, those with
job titles of dietitian or nutritionist would need to have
the license. She did not know of any people in the State of
Alaska, who had those job titles that would qualify for
licensing. Ms. Wild pointed out that there is another
category called "diet tech", which does not require
licensure.
Co-Chair Therriault questioned what restrictions would the
legislation implement. Ms. Wild explained that the bill
would require any person calling themselves a dietitian or
nutritionist be licensed.
In response to concerns voiced by Representative Foster, Ms.
Wild explained that the examination would allow a person to
become a registered dietitian. It could be taken in
Anchorage and would be a one time only test.
Representative Kohring inquired if industry was requesting
the proposed legislation. Ms. Wild replied that "shock" had
been voiced with the $410 biannual fee request, but are
confident that will be for the first cycle only. After
that, there will be renewal charges, a more simple process.
She advised that there is strong support for the
legislation.
Representative Foster MOVED to report CSSB 88 (FIN) out of
Committee with individual recommendations and with the
accompanying fiscal note. There being NO OBJECTION, it was
so ordered.
CS SB 88 (FIN) was reported out of Committee with "no
recommendation" and with a fiscal note by Department of
Commerce and Economic Development dated 4/7/99.
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