Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is a specialized form of dietary instruction that includes counseling on nutrition-related issues. This type of instruction is more advanced than basic nutritional counseling and requires an individualized dietary evaluation conducted by a Registered Dietitian (RD). Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) is a program that helps women purchase healthy foods. The WIC foods are low in fat and high in fiber, providing essential nutrients and helping to maintain a healthy weight.
Although WIC covers some of the costs, women will still need to buy some food or formula on their own. MNT services should be provided in consultation with the healthcare provider for medical coordination. This type of therapy is an integral part of medical treatment for certain diseases and conditions and should be the first step in the treatment process. Customers who access MNT services should have documented evidence of supplementation in their main registry. Subrecipients should provide printed and multimedia materials, as well as signs in languages commonly used by populations in the service area, to inform people about the availability of language assistance services. It is essential to optimize nutritional status through individualized medical nutrition therapy, ensuring food and nutrition security, and nutrition education as part of the total health care system available to people living with HIV through continuity of care.
Nutrition education consists of providing information to older people to promote nutritional well-being and delay the onset of adverse health conditions due to poor nutrition or sedentary behavior. Ryan White telemedicine providers should also follow the DSHS HIV Care Services guidelines for telehealth and telemedicine described in the DSHS Telemedicine Guide. Customers accessing MNT services should have documented evidence of nutritional health education included in their main registry. The services will be documented in the client's medical record and will be signed by the RD who provides the care at each visit. The AAACT (AIDS Arms Access to Care & Treatment) is a program of the Central Texas Council of Governments funded in part by Texas Health and Human Services. The percentage of customers accessing MNT services shows an improvement in the problems identified in the initial evaluation, as documented by the RD in their main registry.
Clients who access MNT services should have documentation in their main registry about the frequency of contact with the RD to review the nutritional plan and goals indicated in the initial evaluation. The nutrition plan will be updated as needed, but not less than twice a year, and will be shared with the client, their primary care provider, and other authorized personnel involved in customer care.
