Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the amount of work and time needed to achieve change; advocacy is complex, multidimensional, and requires consistent effort and a team approach.
2. Understand how to access and use the ATC toolkit to improve access to coverage for your patients.
3. Understand how to reach out to representatives/senators/governor or other local/state/national leadership to impact change.
4. Participants will be able to understand the current status of Medical Nutrition Therapy coverage for Medicare, Medicaid, and major private insurers specifically related to bariatric surgery.
5. Participants will be able to identify the current legislation affecting Medical Nutrition Therapy coverage and the current status of these bills in Congress.
6. Participants will be able to affectively advocate for better nutrition service coverage and understand the process of advocating at the federal and state level.
7. Participants will be able to understand the current drawbacks to institutions accepting outpatient bariatric procedures in relation to reimbursement verses inpatient procedures.
8. Participants will be able to identify options for procedures in relations to patient needs, payor needs, institution needs.
9. Participants will be able to understand the concerns and negative impact to patients who do not fit the criteria for outpatient procedure.