Take Action to Support OH HB 49, Expanding Nutrition and Dietetic Practice in Ohio

Please take action on the alert below from our colleagues at Institute for Integrative Nutrition and let the Ohio legislature know that increasing access to providers of nutrition guidance is important to you and your family!  Send a message of support for OH H.B. 49 now here.

Analysis

H.B. 49 is the Governor’s budget for the fiscal year 2018-2019, and will fund the government for that time period. Buried deep within this bill are two provisions that will significantly impact the practice of nutrition and dietetics in Ohio. The first would dissolve the State Board of Dietetics, and move it under the state medical board. Second, the legislation would empower the Director of the Department of Administrative Services to review and approve, or disapprove, certain board actions that have been referred to the Director by members of the public. Specifically, the Director can take action if the Board is engaging in practices that limit competition, even if authorized by law. This would make it possible for any member of the public to file a complaint about the Board of Dietetics, and potentially have the law invalidated, or more likely, the board frozen and prevented from acting until the law is fixed.

In addition to the Governor’s proposals, Rep. Brigid Kelly, with bipartisan support, has introduced an amendment to the budget bill that would roll back the dietetics law and immediately create competition and employment opportunities. Rep. Kelly’s amendment would convert Ohio into a Title Protection state, whereby under the law anyone may provide “wellness and lifestyle recommendations, nutritional guidance, counseling, analysis, or education,” so long they do not refer or imply that they are licensed.

Recommendations

 Please support this bill in the strongest means possible. Even if the Board of Dietetics is not dissolved, or the exemptions adopted, the Department of Administrative Services provision creates a realistic opportunity to force greater change later. Please send the action alert here to local state Representatives and Senators, and consider calling by phone to follow up.