Nutrition Management


For Referring Physicians

Click here for referral information for Medical Nutrition Therapy

Click here for referral information for Weight Management Patients



Medical Nutrition Therapy includes diet counseling for
(but not limited to):
Anemia, Hypertension, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia, Malnutrition, Metabolic Syndrome, Obesity, PCOS, Sleep Apnea, Thyroid Disease (hypo or hyperthyroidism), Vitamin Deficiency, CAD, CHF, Heart Disease, Diabetes Mellitus (including GDM, IGT), Eating Disorders (Anorexia/Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating, Night Eating), GI Diseases (Celiac, Crohn's, IBS, Diverticulosis, Ulcerative Colitis, Short Bowel, etc.)

Please send a referral that specifies a diagnosis and type of nutritional counseling desired. If you are located on the BMC campus, the referral should be sent via Logician. Otherwise, the referral can be either faxed to 617-638-7449 or mailed to our office at:

Boston Medical Center
Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Weight Management
Preston Family Building 2nd floor
732 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
Attn: Stephanie Spaide MS RD LDN


A paper copy of the referral form to fax or mail can be found at: http://www.bmc.org/medicine/referral_form.pdf

Our office will contact the patient upon receipt of the referral in order to schedule an appointment. Unfortunately, due to the complexity of insurance reimbursement for nutritional services, we are unable to schedule an appointment over the phone until we receive and triage the written referral.

Insurance Coverage: Health Insurance may cover or partially cover medical nutrition therapy; however, some insurance do not cover visits with a dietitian or will only cover visits for specific diagnoses. For instance, Medicare will only allow dietitian visits for diabetes or chronic renal insufficiency. Please have your patient contact their insurance company to learn details about their specific coverage.

If your patient doesn't have insurance or if their insurance will not cover dietitian visits, they have the option to self pay at the time of the visit. Please direct the patient to contact Patient Financial Services at 85 Concord Street Ground Floor PRIOR to their scheduled appointment for further details. Your patient will need to fill out the Self Pay Outpatient Form, please click here to download the form

Referrals for Weight Management Patients:

We encourage patients to attend a FREE orientation program that will help identify the plan that is most likely to work for them. The orientation also educates patients on the commitment to diet, exercise and behavior change that we expect from participants in our program. By coming to the orientation, patients will be able to better utilize the often limited number of appointments covered by insurance companies. If a patient doesn't attend the orientation program, there is a strong likelihood, due to time limitations, that the initial appointment with the doctor and dietitian will consist only of data collection, with no formal diet plan given until a subsequent appointment. At orientation, if the patient hasn't already downloaded the forms located on the FOR PATIENTS link, we will provide them with a detailed medical history form and a 3-day food record to take home, fill out and then return at their first visit to the program. At the conclusion of the orientation, your patient can schedule the appropriate appointments to see an RD and/or MD.

Please Note: Unfortunately, at this time, we give the orientation program given in English only. Therefore, if your patient does not speak English, they will be scheduled to see the doctor and dietitian immediately rather than sent to orientation.

Orientation Time
Monday, 12 Noon
Preston Family bldg 2nd floor
732 Harrison Avenue
Boston MA 02118
Call 617-638-7470 for further information A referral is required by most insurance companies. Please send the referral for weight management to the nutrition coordinator. If you are located on the BMC campus, the referral should be sent via Logician. Otherwise, the referral can be either faxed to 617-638-7449 or mailed to our office at
Boston Medical Center
Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes, Nutrition and Weight Management
Preston Family Building 2nd floor
732 Harrison Avenue
Boston Ma 02118
Att: Stephanie Spaide MS RD LDN


A paper copy of the referral form to fax or mail can be found at: http://www.bmc.org/medicine/referral_form.pdf

Option #1: Pay a flat fee of $598.00 for 16 weeks of MD and RD appointments and weekly support groups. This flat fee does not cover tests, blood work, and nutritional supplements which will be bill for separately.

Option #2: Pay for appointments at the time of the visit. Please direct the patient to contact Patient Financial Services at 85 Concord Street Ground Floor PRIOR to their scheduled appointment for further details. Your patient will need to fill out the Self Pay Outpatient Form, please click here to download the form.

If your patient does not choose the flat fee or self pay program but does not have insurance coverage for dietitian visits, we will offer a one time free dietitian appointment. Your patient will be followed by a nutrition physician specialist for subsequent appointments. The patient is strongly encouraged to join one of our weekly weight management support groups.