17—7.18(231) Special dietary needs. The AAA shall ensure that special dietary needs of program participants are met where feasible and appropriate, including the particular requirements arising from the health, religious, or ethnic backgrounds of eligible participants.
	7.18(1) The following criteria shall be used to determine feasibility and appropriateness:
	a. 	Sufficient numbers of older individuals who have special dietary needs exist to make the provision practical;
	b. 	Skills and food necessary to provide the special menus are available.
	7.18(2) Special dietary and therapeutic menus must be planned under the supervision of a licensed dietitian in accordance with a current diet manual approved by the department. Certified menus must be submitted to the department at least two weeks prior to the initial use of the menus.
	7.18(3) A written physician’s or physician assistant’s order for each older individual requesting a therapeutic diet shall be obtained prior to the older individual’s receipt of the meal and kept on file where the meal is prepared and served. The order shall be interpreted by a licensed dietitian and the individual’s physician or physician assistant.
[ARC 8489B, IAB 1/27/10, effective 1/7/10; ARC 0623C, IAB 3/6/13, effective 4/10/13; ARC 6782C, IAB 1/11/23, effective 2/15/23]