Public Policy and Licensure

The NJAND’s Public Policy Panel is actively advocating for health and wellness policies in New Jersey and beyond. Our team consists of Co-Public Policy Coordinators, a State Policy Representative, a State Regulatory specialist, a Consumer Protection Coordinator, and a Nutrition Services Payment Specialist. Our most recent effort is continued access to telehealth services and the continuation of pay parity for nutrition providers. Last month, the NJAND along with 20+ NJ-based organizations signed a letter of support to protect access to telehealth services. Click here to see the letter of support.

Meet the Panel

April Milevski, MS, RDN

Co-Public Policy Coordinator

The Public Policy Coordinator (PPC) educates and engages members on federal legislative and public policy issues, and coordinates grassroots activities. This PPC is the key connection between the Academy’s Policy Initiatives and Advocacy staff and affiliate leaders. The PPC’s lead and facilitate the public policy committee/panel meetings and are responsible for annual submission of the affiliate public policy plan of work to Academy staff.

Jane Selitto, RDN

Co-Public Policy Coordinator

The Public Policy Coordinator (PPC) educates and engages members on federal legislative and public policy issues, and coordinates grassroots activities. This PPC is the key connection between the Academy’s Policy Initiatives and Advocacy staff and affiliate leaders. The PPC’s lead and facilitate the public policy committee/panel meetings and are responsible for annual submission of the affiliate public policy plan of work to Academy staff.

Doreen S. Garelick, JD, RDN

State Policy Respresentative

The State Policy Representative (SPR) monitors state legislation relevant to the NJAND and keeps members and the Public Policy Panel informed on key state legislative issues. The SPR takes the lead in coordinating meetings with the state legislators who serve on committees with jurisdiction over legislation impacting food, nutrition, health, and licensure.

Pinkin Panchal, MS, RDN

Consumer Protection Coordinator

The Consumer Protection Coordinator leads the NJAND’s consumer protection and licensure initiatives; advises and updates affiliate leaders and members on local, state-level and nationwide consumer protection issues. The CPC coordinates the reporting of professional success stories, incidents of harm or hypothetical harm and effective practice to responsible parties. This role monitors and advances state licensure activities, while maintaining key relationships with the state credentialing board and other parties related to state licensure.

Marisa Sweeney, MS, RDN, RYT

Nutrition Services Payment Specialist

The Nutrition Services Payment Specialist (NSPS) serves as coordinator of state-level advocacy efforts to expand nutrition coverage polices in public (Medicare, state Medicaid/MCOs, state employees) and commercial/private payer health plans. This role is the local resource for NJAND members who have questions about coding, coverage, and payment issues.

Licensure in New Jersey

The New Jersey Board of Dietetics and Nutrition has been meeting monthly since November 2022 to write draft regulations for the Dietetics and Nutrition Licensing Law which establishes a dual pathway for licensure for Dietitians and Nutritionists.  This law ensures that only licensed individuals are permitted to provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) and it limits titles that are commonly misused and abused in the marketplace. 

Under the law, any unlicensed individual in New Jersey will be prohibited from using the following professional  titles: “dietitian nutritionist,” “nutritionist,” “dietitian,” “dietician,” “nutrition counselor,” “nutrition specialist,” “LDN,” “LD,” “LN,” “nutritional therapy practitioner,” “nutritional therapy consultant,” “certified nutrition therapy practitioner,” “master nutrition therapist,” “licensed dietitian nutritionist,” “licensed nutritionist” or any other title, designation, words, letters, abbreviations, or insignia indicating one as a provider of medical nutrition therapy, unless licensed to practice.

A dietitian registered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) may continue to use the title Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and the designation “RD” or “RDN”, and a nutritionist certified by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists may use the title Certified Nutrition Specialist and the designation CNS, and an individual may use any lawfully earned federally trademarked title.

The New Jersey Board of Dietetics and Nutrition consists of three dietitians and one CNS. It is awaiting a physician appointment as well as a public member appointment.   The board is expected to meet three to four more times before the draft regulations are submitted to the legislature for review. It will take approximately one year for the draft regulations to reach the public comment phase where concerns/recommendations can be voiced by the public. The final rules/regulations must be adopted within one year from the date the public comment period closes. The rules should be officially adopted within the next two-three years. An application for licensure will become available shortly after the rules are adopted.

The board meeting schedule and additional information can be found here. All are welcome to attend. However, please note that you cannot make any comments until the official meeting ends and the comment period begins. Please continue to check here for updates. We thank you for your patience! (Updated 10/03/23)

Dietetics and Nutrition Licensing Law FAQ’s

Action alerts allow us to bring the Academy’s policy issues to the attention of members of Congress and help to raise awareness and add legitimacy to a particular priority issue. Action alerts are available to both Academy members and nonmembers. Take action by clicking the button below that applies to you — it literally only takes a minute!