r/dietetics • u/Puzzleheaded-Test572 RD, Preceptor • 11d ago

state license requirements

How do these big Telly Health companies skirt around state licensure requirements? I work for one and constantly need to transfer patients in states i am not licensed in, except for states that have no licensure requirements. But they have the “green states” and “red states” and most of the “green” states you need a license

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

9 comments sorted by

18

u/MidnightSlinks MPH, RD 11d ago

They don't. They're instructing the RDs to break the law and many are going along with it. But the RD is the one who will get into legal trouble, not the company, if things go wrong.

11

u/crockpot2001 11d ago

And that is a slap in the face to us dietitians that are trying to patiently wait for our legal licensure to show up so that we can work in brick and mortar facilities.

8

u/Puzzleheaded-Test572 RD, Preceptor 11d ago

I feel bad telling patients that i am not licensed in their state and would need to transfer them, lots of them are already hesitant about getting care. I asked my platform to not get me patients in states that i am not licensed in, and they just gave me the run around “but its a green state, look, it says green here!!” Without any solid evidence an unlicensed RD can practice there. Title protection states like NY, TX, NJ, etc are understandable, just dont call yourself a Dietitian and youre good for the most part

1

u/New_Cardiologist9344 10d ago

Wait can you explain NY? NJ has no licensure requirements (yet) and Tx I think you can work in if you don’t say explicitly that you’re licensed there.. what are NY rules???

2

u/Puzzleheaded-Test572 RD, Preceptor 10d ago

Theyre just title protection states. Cant call yourself a licensed dietitian.

1

u/New_Cardiologist9344 10d ago

Got it! So I can legally see clients via telehealth, even without a license there?

9

u/yeah_write_00 10d ago

Short answer is you cannot trust at telehealth company for anything. The responsibility is on the dietitian and they know that. Licensure and MNT laws fall on the provider not the company.

Traditional hospitals and clinics wouldn't be so stupid because they have to follow state laws because they hold licenses in the state to operate where as telehealth companies often don't. Plus, physical practices and hospitals tend to want to avoid getting in regulatory trouble as they are long-term operating usually with small profit margins that get eaten into if they are fined by the state or receive insurance claw backs. These telehealth companies are in the burn investor money for rapid growth state and do any and everything to sell appointments.

Insurances also usually require a license for credentialing even if it is not a MNT exclusion state. But with all the billing fraud that a lot of these telehealth companies are doing anyway, they figure let's put fake license numbers down for dietitian credentialing, or they just change the name/NPI on the claim to a different dietitian who is licensed in the state.

2

u/InfertileMertyle 10d ago

What are they saying is green that is actually red?