tips for successful private practice dietitians

A while back, I heard something on a podcast that stopped me in my tracks—the concept of a “pirate versus a practitioner.”

And honestly? It hit hard.

Especially in the world of RD business coaches, this comparison couldn’t be more accurate.

When building a successful private practice, I’ve come to realize that dietitian business coaches typically fall into one of two camps: the Pirate or the Practitioner.

The Pirate Dietitian Coach

The pirate dietitian coach is all about quick wins and shortcuts. They’re often focused on scaling fast, avoiding the messy realities of insurance, and chasing revenue at all costs.

You might recognize them because they:

• Avoid insurance and push cash-pay models exclusively
  
• Teach tactics that rely on workarounds or risky “hacks”
  
• Haven’t run a practice in years (if ever)
  
• Overpromise but rarely deliver sustainable results
  
  

These coaches often lean heavily on sales psychology, not systems.

And while their approach might deliver quick wins, it’s not built for the long haul.

It’s also not built on actual experience in today’s private practice world.

The Practitioner Dietitian Coach with Real-World Experience

Now let’s talk about the practitioner—the dietitian coach with real-world experience.

This coach doesn’t just teach from theory—they’re in the trenches right alongside their clients.

Here’s what makes them different:

• They actively run a private practice and see patients
  
• They are credentialed and bill insurance weekly
  
• They maintain credentials like CDCES
  
• They understand today’s challenges with EMRs, MD referrals, and compliance
  
• They build strategies around what’s working right now
  
  

This kind of coach doesn’t rely on outdated methods or hypothetical advice.

They practice what they preach—literally.

They know how to scale a sustainable, ethical business because they’re doing it themselves.

And yes, it takes more time, more effort, and more patience—but the result is a resilient, regulation-compliant practice that grows with purpose and longevity.

Why This Matters for You

If you’re building a practice that’s designed to last, you don’t want fluff.

You want proven systems, ethical guidance, and someone who truly gets it.

You need a dietitian coach with real-world experience—not one who’s been out of the game for years or never even played it.

I still bill insurance. I still review credentialing applications for my team.

I still use multiple EMRs. Why? Because I want to stay sharp and deliver advice that’s relevant and applicable to the real-world practices my clients are running.

So here’s my advice:

If you’re looking for a mentor, choose someone who has the kind of practice you want to build.

Study how they operate, not just what they post on Instagram.

Choose sustainability over hype.

Choose experience over ego.

And if you’re ready to work with a coach who’s still in the trenches, I’d love for you to check out my Reimbursement Coaching Program—built from 20 years of real-world, in-the-practice experience.

You can learn more about the voodoo-that-I-dodo HERE. 

Ever feel like getting credentialed as a dietitian is harder than joining an exclusive nightclub? 

You’ve got the paperwork, the patience, the drive… but you’re still not on the ‘it’ list. 

If you are feeling ‘all of these feels,’ then this blog post is for you.

Getting credentialed as a dietitian can be one of the most exciting steps in building your practice—hello, new client opportunities! 

But it can also feel painfully slow, confusing, and downright frustrating. 

Whether you’re brand new to insurance or trying to expand to more panels, here are the three big reasons credentialing feels so hard for dietitians—and how to make it easier.

Reason 1: The Process Wasn’t Built for Speed (or Sanity)

Insurance credentialing can take three to six months—and that’s if nothing gets lost along the way.

Applications bounce between departments, outdated systems, and (yes) the occasional e-fax machine.

To make matters worse, the process wasn’t designed specifically for dietitians.

You’re often lumped into “general provider” categories that don’t quite fit, which slows things down even more.

Amy P. Pro Tip: Start early. If you want to see insurance clients in January, begin your applications in July.

Reason 2: Every Insurance Company Plays by Different Rules

Credentialing would be easy if there were one standard application—but no.

Blue Cross might ask for one set of documents, Cigna another, and Medicare might ask for a different set of documents.

They have their own entire application universe.

It’s like walking into a grocery store where the milk is in the produce section and bread is in the freezer aisle—you spend most of your time figuring out where things go.

Amy P. Pro Tip: Create a master checklist for each payer’s requirements so you’re not starting from scratch every single time.

Reason 3: No One Teaches This in School

Raise your hand if your dietetics program taught you the Krebs cycle but not how to submit an NPI application. 

Yep, same, me too.

Credentialing requires learning a whole new language—EFTs, CAQH, taxonomy codes—and figuring it out on your own can take years.

Amy P. Pro Tip: Invest in learning the credentialing process once, and you’ll save yourself endless frustration and delays down the road.

The Good News

Yes, credentialing is confusing, time-consuming, and at times… soul-sucking. 

But once you understand the rules, it becomes much easier—and opens up a steady stream of new clients.

If you’d rather skip the frustration entirely, my team offers done-for-you credentialing services (we even set up your EFTs for you). 

Click here to apply.

Or, if you want someone to walk you through it so you can learn and grow your practice empire, my coaching program is the perfect fit. 

Click here to claim your crown.

No matter how you ‘do’ credentialing I am cheering for you. 

You are one less step away from financial freedom and having the practice of your dreams. 

Well, HELLOOO dietitians — Amy Plano, The Reimbursement Dietitian.

If your insurance claims are getting denied or your reimbursements are lower than expected, you’re likely skipping a few key steps in your insurance verification process.

And you’re not alone. Many dietitians hate verifying benefits, but if you half-ass this part (which MANY of you are doing), you are literally leaking money. 

Let’s fix that today. 

Here are the top three mistakes I see when it comes to insurance verification for dietitians — and exactly how to fix them.

❌ Mistake #1: Not Asking About Preventive Coverage

Most dietitians assume you need a diagnosis to bill insurance. But thanks to the Affordable Care Act, many plans actually cover nutrition counseling preventively, especially for conditions like:

• Obesity
• Prediabetes
• General wellness (YAY!)

These visits are often covered at 100% — no copay, no deductible. However, each insurance company has its own definition of preventative. Therefore, if you are not sure what those ICD 10 codes are, check out my CheatSheet HERE.

Questions to ask when verifying insurance benefits:

• “Is nutrition counseling covered preventively under this plan?”
• “Are there any diagnosis codes that allow for zero patient responsibility?”
• “Are benefits available under both preventive and medical coverage?”

❌ Mistake #2: Not Confirming Visit Limits

Just because a plan covers Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) doesn’t mean it covers it endlessly.

You need to confirm:

• How many visits are covered per year?
• Is it based on the calendar year or plan year? (Those are NOT the same.)
  
• Is prior authorization required after a certain number of sessions?

Missing this step can result in denied claims or you being forced to collect large out-of-pocket payments from surprised clients. Not a vibe anyone wants to sign up for.

❌ Mistake #3: Not Recording Reference Numbers

This might seem minor, but it’s HUGE.

You need to confirm:

• The name of the rep you spoke with
  
• The call reference number

If the insurance company gives you incorrect information — and they will (more than correct information)— this is your proof that you did your due diligence. 

Without it? You’re the one stuck footing the bill when a claim is denied.

Bottom Line:

 If you’re serious about succeeding with insurance in your nutrition practice, you MUST get your verification game tight.

✅ Ask about preventive AND medical coverage
✅ Confirm visit limits, frequency, and authorizations
✅ Always collect reference numbers from your calls

💥 Ready to Stop Leaking Money?

If you’re still Googling “how to verify benefits as a dietitian,” it’s time to stop winging it.

Inside my Reimbursement Coaching Program, I teach you exactly how to:

• Verify benefits with confidence
• Use proper codes for billing.
• Avoid the most common (and expensive) mistake.s
• Get paid what you deserve — consistently
• Step-by-step training
• A badass RD community
• 30-day money-back guarantee
  

👉 Click here to apply now.

Let’s get you credentialed, confident, and cashing those insurance checks.

Hugs & High Fives, Amy 

Today, we’re tackling one of the most common (and costly) mistakes I see dietitians make when starting to work with insurance.

Let’s clear it up quickly because this misunderstanding can cost you hundreds (even thousands) in lost income.

It Starts With Knowing the Difference: Credentialing vs. Contracting

If you’d rather watch me explain this, click HERE for the  YouTube Video.

Let’s break it down.

Credentialing = Verifying Your Qualifications

Credentialing is the first step in becoming an insurance-based provider. It’s where the insurance company verifies your background to ensure you meet their standards.

This includes reviewing:

• Your RD license
• Your degrees and education
• Liability insurance
• NPI number
• Work history
• Credentials like your RD or CNS

Goal: To prove you’re professionally qualified to serve their members

Timeline: Usually takes 60–120 days

But here’s the thing: Credentialing alone does NOT make you in-network.

Too many dietitians receive that “You’re credentialed!” email and assume they can start billing. 

Not quite.

That comes next — in the contracting phase.

Contracting = Signing the Agreement

Contracting is where you receive and sign the official agreement that makes you in-network. It outlines your reimbursement rates, billing rules, and legal terms. 

Depending on the payer, this can happen right after credentialing or alongside it.

It includes:

• Your fee schedule
• Provider obligations
• Billing policies
• Legal requirements

Goal: To officially make you an in-network provider

Timeline: Usually takes 30–90 days after credentialing

Real Talk: If You Bill Before You’re Contracted…

You risk not getting paid. 

Many dietitians unknowingly submit claims after getting credentialed, but before they’ve received a signed contract, those claims are often denied or rejected. 

That means you eat the cost.

This is precisely why so many dietitians come to us for help.

So, What’s the Fix?

If you’re overwhelmed by these steps — or unsure where you are in the process — it’s time to bring in a team that knows what they’re doing.

Our credentialing services for dietitians are built to guide you from start to finish. From group contract setup to credentialing and follow-ups, we handle the back-end headaches so you can focus on building your private practice.

Click here to learn more about our done-for-you credentialing services for dietitians.

We know the timeline, the portals, the paperwork — and we make sure nothing falls through the cracks.

 Quick Recap

• Credentialing = background check
• Contracting = official agreement to be paid
• You need both to get paid as an in-network provider.
• If you’re unsure what step you’re on, or just don’t want to deal with it, our team’s here for you.

Let us help you go from confused to contracted.