POLITICS - Fwd: Protect Your Access to Highly Qualified Nutritionists!

[Guest guest]

Thought this might be of some interest, especially to folks who are in

Wisconsin.

-jennifer

Begin forwarded message:

> From: American Association for Health Freedom <office@...>

> Date: November 13, 2009 12:15:01 PM EST

> Subject: Protect Your Access to Highly Qualified Nutritionists!

> Reply-American Association for Health Freedom <office@...>

>

> Protect your access to highly qualified nutritionists!

> Contact your Assemblyperson today!

>

> AB440, companion legislation to SB115, will force highly qualified

nutritionists to complete dietetic programs through the American Dietetic

Association (ADA). AB440 grants exclusive control over the practice of

nutritional therapy to an organization that is historically geared toward the

practice of dietetics. The bill is currently pending in the Committee on Health

and Healthcare Reform and your concerns need to be heard.

>

> If the current law in Wisconsin for ‘certification of dietetics’ is going to

be expanded to ‘licensing of dietitians and nutritionists,’ then the licensing

requirements need to include nutrition-based training and examinations—not

simply dietetic based requirements. As AB440 is currently written, an

individual must complete a didactic program in dietetics, 900 hours of

supervised experience through a practice program accredited by the ADA, and pass

an examination for dietitians established by the ADA. Where are the

nutrition-based credentialing agencies that work explicitly with nutritionists

such as the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists through the American

College of Nutrition or the American Clinical Board of Nutrition?

>

> Over the past several years, the ADA has been pressing state legislatures to

accept ADA’s credentialing arm as the only means to satisfy a state’s

nutritionist licensing requirements. And that is what is happening in Wisconsin.

Licensing legislation to the same effect was introduced in 1993 and rejected. A

certification law was passed for dietitians and has been in effect since that

time. ADA is attempting again to capture the practice area of nutritional

therapy.

>

> AB440:

>

> Prohibits highly qualified professionals credentialed from other nutritional

agencies from practicing nutritional therapy in Wisconsin;

> Prohibits over 600 alternative nutritional providers with extensive training

in science and cultural aspects of nutrition from providing nutritional

assessments;

> Is too broad and captures ‘nutrition therapy’ and ‘weight control services;

> Only grandfathers ‘certified dietitians’ and individuals registered with ADA;

and

> Fails to recognize nutrition-based credentialing agencies.

> We believe AB440 is completely partial legislation to the dietetic profession

and is not a matter of consumer safety or public health. AB440 creates a

monopoly over nutritional therapy to the sole benefit of the American Dietetic

Association!

>

> Support our efforts to defeat AB440 as currently written and protect the

consumer’s right to choose from whom they receive their information and advice,

and ensure that competent, highly qualified professionals have the right to

practice nutritional therapy.

>

> Contact your State Representative and express your opinion. Oppose Assembly

Bill 440 as currently written. Thank you!

>

> If you are a practitioner in Wisconsin, contact your Representative here.

>

> If you are a Wisconsin citizen and want to protect your access to

Nutritionists, contact your Representative here.

>

>

>