Meeting Public Comments

Names and comments are public records. Remaining information is considered a confidential record.

Comments Submitted:

02-12-2024

Angie Tagtow, DrPH, MS, RD, LD [Akta Strategies, LLC]

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are highly trained health professionals with a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program and who completed a supervised practice requirement, passed a national exam, and continue professional development throughout their careers. RDNs are valued members of health care teams and provide critical Medical Nutrition Therapies and nutrition services in hospitals, longterm care facilities, and veterans hospitals, as well as in schools and public health clinics. Currently, there are more than 1400 RDNs in Iowa.The Dietitian Licensure Compact, developed in collaboration with the Department of Defense, Council of State Governments, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, provides licensees with opportunities for multistate practice, increases mobility for individuals who are relocating (e.g., military spouses and families), improves public safety, and promotes workforce development by reducing unnecessary licensure burdens (especially for RDNs who work in health care systems that cross state lines). In addition to Iowa HF 2375, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi have recently proposed Dietitian Licensure Compact bills.The benefits to the State of Iowa and the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing in participating in the Dietitian Licensure Compact include reduced administrative burden and increased efficiency, participation in a shared compact information system that supports the facilitation of licensure and discipline information, increased cooperation across state licensure boards specifically during investigations and disputes, and importantly, it would allow the State of Iowa to retain jurisdiction over licensees practicing in their state. HF 2375 Dietitian Licensure Compact would be administered in a similar manner as the Iowa Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Compact, Iowa Dentistry and Dental Hygienist Compact, and the Iowa Interstate Commission of Nurse Licensure Compact.HF 2375 Dietitian Licensure Compact would positively impact Iowas economy. It would promote healthcare workforce development, especially in rural areas; expand employment opportunities for RDNs into new markets; and attract dietetic students and practitioners to Iowa. Most importantly, HF 2375 Dietitian Licensure Compact would promote and protect the health of Iowans by increasing access to RDNs, expanding continuity of care, and reduce Iowans healthcare expenditures.As members of the House State Government Committee, I urge you to pass HF 2375 Dietetic Licensure Compact.Thank you in advance for your support,Angie Tagtow, DrPH, MS, RD, LD

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02-13-2024

Catherine Rudolph [Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics ]

My name is Cat Rudolph. I am a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) conducting community research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of older adults in Iowa. My work and education has included a Bachelors and Masters in Dietetics and Exercise Science, more than 1200 hours of supervised practice experience at Duke University Hospital, farmers market management, a hospital job as a clinical dietitian, and I am currently in a Nutritional Sciences PhD program at Iowa State.This bill offers immense benefits to nutrition care access, telehealth opportunities, flexibility for military families who are relocating, and employment opportunities for registered dietitians in the state of Iowa! The compact is pending in surrounding states including Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, Tennessee, and Mississippi. This bill relieves a major burden off of registered dietitians that see patients outside of the state of Iowa, by streamlining licensure. For the state of Iowa, this bill reduces administrative burdens, enhances efficiency, and increases cooperation across state licensing boards. While I am not currently in private practice, I would love the opportunity to set up nutrition counseling services with patients in the future. This bill would be extremely beneficial in enhancing my ability to do so, so that I can support more community members to improve their health and reduce overall healthcare costs.

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02-13-2024

Maren Wolff [Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics]

Your support is requested in passing HF 2375 for the Dietitian Licensure Compact. This compact provides several benefits to Iowans, military personnel and their families, as well as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). Passage of this compact would provide RDNs, who are health care providers that have gone through extensive education and training to provide medical nutrition therapy, the opportunity for multistate practice by reducing the burden of obtaining licensure in every state to practice. This is especially beneficial for individuals who are relocating, such as military families, to have the opportunity to continue and even expand their practice as an RDN beyond state borders. Though this bill also provides for greater employment opportunities for all and development of the workforce, including within rural areas. This compact is also beneficial for Iowans who would experience expanded access to nutrition care from RDNs, as well as the continued protection that licensure ensures. Through medical nutrition therapy, RDNs have the ability to manage complex medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, kidney disease, malnutrition, gastrointestinal disorders, and nutrition support through feeding tubes or IV. RDNs also provide individualized nutritional guidance within the setting of specific surgeries, medications, or treatments. It is essential for the health and wellbeing of Iowans to provide expanded access to this high quality and specialized nutrition care through the passage of the Dietitian Licensure Compact. Thank you for your support of this compact! Maren Wolff, PhD, RDN, LD; President, Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

02-13-2024

Kaitlyn Scheuermann, MPP-D, RDN, LD []

Registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are an essential part of the health care team for many Iowans. Dietitians are highly trained to provide personcentered nutrition care for an array of medical diagnoses, referred to as Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT). For many patients, some of the most challenging parts of their care is when they leave a hospital setting and no longer have the guidance of health care staff or meals prepared from a special menu by hospital foodservice staff. Having continuity of care for patients is essential. In the rural parts of our state, where it may be most challenging to access nutrition care, a patient may seek telehealth services to reduce transportation barriers. By passing compact language, dietitians in the state of Iowa will be able to connect to new opportunities to provide their services to broader audiences in Iowa and across compact states and reduce licensure burdens, especially for those RDNs who work in healthcare systems that cross state lines. This will encourage RDNs to practice here and develop our Iowa economy. It will entice aspiring RDNs to receive their education here and build a livelihood for themselves here. In a state where we desire increased efficiencies, the compact will reduce administrative burden, and allow Iowa to retain legal authority to discipline over licensees. Credentialing alone does not create this jurisdiction. The compact will protect the health of Iowans, increase access to highquality and safe nutrition care, and reduce health care expenses that can burden our citizens financially. I ask that you pass the dietetic licensure compact proposed in HF 2375 for the betterment of the health of Iowans.