You very easily could be. With so many
having dual titles, they often switch from one profession to another
without saying anything. If you have an appointment for diabetes
education, it will start out as education, but somewhere in the
education, they switch to telling you what to eat and you are in
areas that a dietitian should be covering.
I haven't had this happen to me, but
several of our new members have been asking questions about how to
handle this when it happens. I thanked Jake for how he handled the
situation. When diabetes education became about food and the number
of carbohydrates, Jake told the instructor that he was there for
diabetes education and not what a dietitian was to be teaching in a
class he would be attending the following week.
Jake told me that he hadn't raised his
voice and thought he was polite, but the CDE/RD turned on him and
told him that she was qualified to teach both and would teach both.
Jake said that this was only about 15 minutes into the session, but
he decided it was time to leave. Once he was out of sight of the
building, he called the insurance company and informed them about
what had happened and said it was more about information than
diabetes education.
His health insurance company was very
thorough in their questions and when they had the information, they
thanked him and said she would be paid for education only since that
was what the class was supposed to be about. He was told that she
would only be paid for 15 minutes. He was asked if he would be
attending any more classes with her and Jake said no, after what
happened.
Allen also thanked him and said that he
could believe she would bill for the full time and for both education
and diet advice. Another new member, Elmer, said something similar
had happened to him, only it was in reverse. Both Allen and Jake
advised him to contact his health insurance and let them know what
happened. Allen said we don't believe they should be able to cover
both topics during a session and be paid for both especially when
they were referred for one topic only.
I said this is what more dual titled
people are doing and we don't think this is right as even doctors are
being limited in what they can charge for when you go in to see a
doctor. I continued that is why we are asking my cousin to speak at
our next meeting to give everyone a better understanding of nutrition
and what balancing a meal plan means. Carbohydrates will not be
pushed and she will work with you at the level of carbohydrates you
desire to consume.
Jake said that then I would be wiser to
not attend the meeting with a dietitian. Allen said that is up to
you, but you will learn more with Bob's cousin. Most of us use her
and she helped me when I needed help because I was vitamin B12 and
vitamin D deficient and receiving shots to help. I had not been
cleared for supplements, but she went with me to a special
appointment and talked with the doctor after hours and had a meal
plan I approved of and was able to use and with the supplements that
were necessary.
She helped Jerry and others when they
needed help. I said Brenda is the only one she has not worked with
because her daughter helps her. Allen continued that even Brenda
respects Suzanne and asked her questions from time to time, but does
not use her, as she prefers to keep it in the family. I said Suzanne
knows this and respects this.
Allen told the two new members that he
would contact Tim and explain what had happened and ask Tim to send
out an email to all members about this and suggest that the rest of
the members hold up in any appointments with CDEs or RDs. I said
that most of the older members could help with education and that my
cousin Beverly already was helping members on education. Jake and
Elmer said this sounds like what we should do.
Jake and Elmer thanked us for our time
and Jake said he felt better after talking with someone.
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