HARRY HUGHES, Governor 3613

providing that the requirements for licensure of dietitians
shall take effect after a certain date; providing that
certain requirements shall be waived for certain individuals
before a certain date; providing that this Act is not
intended to provide any mandated reimbursement for
dietitians merely because of their licensure; and generally
relating to' the licensing of dietitians and limitation on
the use of certain words and terms in the State.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

Article 48A - Insurance Code

Section 354Z, 470U, and 477AA

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1979 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)

BY adding to

Article - Health Occupations

Section 4.5-101 through 4.5-502, inclusive, to be under the

new title "Title 4.5 Dietitians"
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1981 Volume and 1984 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Currently there is no clear means for the public to
identify who is qualified to provide quality nutritional care and
information; and

WHEREAS, The elderly, the poor, the overweight, the
chronically and terminally ill, and the fitness enthusiast are
obtaining counseling from sometimes unqualified persons resulting
in unnecessary costs and harm; and

WHEREAS, Health care providers frequently have inadequate or
unreliable means of identifying qualified diet counselors with
whom to collaborate; and

WHEREAS, Money has been spent needlessly by those with
limited incomes for ineffective cures and treatments; and

WHEREAS, Health care costs remain unnecessarily high for
treatment of many illnesses, and costs could be reduced in many
cases with adequate preventive diet counseling; and

WHEREAS, Licensing dietitians will help the consumer who is
elderly, poor, overweight, chronically or terminally ill, or
interested in optimum fitness find a qualified person to offer
advice in good nutrition, special diets and economical food
buying; and