Questions, answered

A: A registered dietitian and nutritionist are not the same. The title "nutritionist" is not a protected title, which means that anyone, including yourself, can call themselves a nutritionist. At The Sports Nutrition Playbook, all of our providers are Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN). Registered Dietitian Nutritionists must complete a Bachelor’s and Master's degree in Nutrition, pass a national board exam, and complete 75 continuing education credits every five years to maintain their credentials. Insurance companies cover nutrition counseling from registered dietitians, not nutritionists.

A: Working with a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) can be a game-changer for your health and wellness journey. RDNs are health professionals specializing in food and nutrition, equipped with the knowledge and expertise to help you make informed dietary choices. They provide a comprehensive and personalized approach to nutritional care, ensuring that your unique health needs and goals are met.

RDNs employ a behavioral health approach, meaning they focus not only on what you eat but also on how your eating habits and lifestyle choices impact your overall well-being. This holistic perspective helps you develop sustainable habits and strategies to achieve your long-term health goals. By working with an RDN, you gain access to a trusted partner who supports you in making lasting changes, ultimately leading to improved health and a better quality of life.

A: A sports dietitian is a specialized registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) who focuses on the unique nutritional needs of athletes and individuals participating in regular physical activity. They are experts in sports nutrition, which involves tailoring dietary plans to enhance athletic performance, optimize recovery, and promote overall health and well-being.

A: Working with a sports dietitian can be incredibly beneficial for several reasons:

1. Personalized Nutrition Plans: A sports dietitian provides customized meal plans based on your specific sport, training regimen, and individual goals. This ensures you get the right balance of nutrients to fuel your performance and support recovery.
2. Enhanced Performance: By optimizing your diet, a sports dietitian can help you improve endurance, strength, and overall athletic performance. They know which foods and supplements can boost energy levels and enhance physical capabilities.
3. Injury Prevention and Recovery: Proper nutrition plays a crucial role in preventing injuries and speeding up recovery. A sports dietitian can guide you on the best foods to support healing and maintain muscle health.
4. Weight Management: Whether you need to gain muscle, lose fat, or maintain a healthy weight, a sports dietitian can create a tailored plan to help you reach your goals without compromising performance.
5. Education and Support: A sports dietitian educates you on the importance of nutrition and how it impacts your athletic performance. They provide ongoing support and adjustments to your diet as needed, ensuring you stay on track.
6. Nutritional Timing: Understanding when to eat is as important as knowing what to eat. A sports dietitian can help you strategize meal and snack timings to maximize energy levels and recovery periods.

A: Yes! All of The Sports Nutrition Playbook registered dietitians are experienced and skilled to work with clients of all types. All of our dietitians hold master’s degrees in nutrition, are registered and licensed dietitians, and many have advanced specialty certifications. Please read about our registered dietitians to find the best fit for you and your needs.

A: Yes! The Sports Nutrition Playbook registered dietitians work with clients and athletes of all ages and sports. When working with children, adolescents, and/or teens, we ask for one parent or guardian to be present in the session. We can utilize Zoom through our secure client portal if the minor and parent/guardian are in two different physical locations. Please let your registered dietitian know in advance if this service is needed.

A: The Sports Nutrition Playbook is currently in-network with four major insurance companies: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield/Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. For in-network clients, we work with your insurance company to ensure coverage.‍

94% of in-network patients pay $0 out of pocket. Complete our insurance verification form to verify your coverage and learn more about how we work with your insurance company.

In some rare cases, there are costs associated with using insurance. Our policies are outlined below:

If your insurance denies payment or your claim goes to a deductible, you will be required to pay the fee. We will reach out to you personally to determine payment options for future sessions if you wish to continue working with your dietitian.

If your claim is processed with either a copay or coinsurance amount, you are financially responsible for those amounts. If you have questions regarding a possible copay or coinsurance, please contact your insurance provider directly about the benefits of medical nutritional therapy.

If your insurance does not cover our nutrition services, we also offer self-pay services at $150 per initial session and $125 for follow-up sessions.

Insurance must be active at the time of your appointment. If your insurance becomes inactive and you wish to continue your sessions, you will be charged our private pay rate of $150.

Contact us at our contact form if you have further questions regarding your insurance coverage.

A: The Sports Nutrition Playbook is currently in-network with four major insurance companies: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield/Anthem, Cigna, and UnitedHealthcare. For in-network clients, we work with your insurance company to ensure coverage.

A: No, we do not accept Medicare or Medicaid. 

If you have Medicare or Medicaid insurance, we offer a self-pay rate for nutrition services of $150 for an initial 60-minute session and $125 for a 45-minute follow-up session. The self-pay fee is collected at the time of booking an appointment. Self-pay clients can conveniently book an appointment HERE.

A: To comply with state licensure laws, The Sports Nutrition Playbook currently accepts clients covered by insurance in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio,  Oklahoma, Oregon,  Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.  

A: The number of appointments available to clients varies across insurance providers and plans. 94% of in-network patients pay $0 out of pocket for at least three appointments, but many insurance providers offer unlimited visits.

Please complete our insurance verification form and our team will get back to you, via HIPAA-compliant text and email, within 48 business hours to provide you with your insurance coverage.

A: Most insurance providers include preventative diet counseling in most of their PPO plans at no cost to the client. Copays and/or deductibles may apply after the allowed number of preventative nutrition counseling sessions have been completed. Our insurance team will let you know your insurance coverage in advance so you can choose if you would like to continue with additional nutrition counseling appointments, as well as what fee the service will incur.

A: You do not need a referral from your doctor unless you are located in California due to state licensure laws. If you do have a referral, we can still see you and can coordinate care with your doctor if needed.

A: If your insurance changes, please complete the insurance verification form again with the updated information. Once completed, please email our contact form to let us know that your insurance has changed, you completed the form, and you need to have your new insurance verified.

A: The Sports Nutrition Playbook does not handle any billing for out-of-network plans. We can offer you a superbill that you can submit to your insurance in hopes of getting reimbursed. It is your responsibility to inquire with your insurance company regarding these benefits and submit superbills (we can provide you with the superbill). The session fee must be paid at the time of booking the appointment.

A: The Sports Nutrition Playbook offers a self-pay rate of $150 for an initial 60-minute session and $125 for a 45-minute follow-up session.

We can offer you a superbill that you can submit to your insurance in hopes of getting reimbursed. It is your responsibility to inquire with your insurance company regarding these benefits and submit superbills (we can provide you with the superbill). The session fee must be paid at the time of booking the appointment. Self-pay clients can conveniently book an appointment HERE.

A: The Sports Nutrition Playbook offers a self-pay rate of $150 for an initial 60-minute session and $125 for a 45-minute follow-up session. The self-pay fee is collected at the time of booking an appointment. Self-pay clients can conveniently book an appointment HERE.

A: We require a credit card to be kept on file for all clients primarily to enforce our late cancellation/no-show policy of $50 or for any copays/coinsurance. You will only be responsible for a no-show fee if you fail to show up to your appointment or attempt to cancel/reschedule it within 24 hours of the appointment start time.

If we are in-network with your insurance provider, we will work hard to ensure coverage for your services. A small percentage of our clients incur some out-of-pocket costs from their insurance, such as copayments or coinsurance. In those instances, you will be responsible for those fees. However, we will not charge you without advanced notice and will work with you and the insurance provider to minimize costs when possible.

A: Ask your insurance provider the following questions:

• Do I have nutrition benefits for preventative nutrition counseling and/or medical nutrition therapy? Procedure Codes are 97802 and 97803.
• Is The Sports Nutrition Playbook and Amy Goodson, LLC a covered provider on my plan?
• Do I have out-of-network coverage for nutrition counseling?
• Are there any limitations on which medical conditions are covered on my plan?
• How many nutrition counseling visits does my health insurance cover?
• Is prior approval or a physician referral required by my primary care provider?

If you would rather The Sports Nutrition Playbook verify your insurance benefits, please complete this form.

A: Please fax all referral forms to 214-286-6886. If you need a referral form to provide to your physician, please download our FORM and have your physician fax it to our number.

A: The Sports Nutrition Playbook is a virtual nutrition counseling business, which enables more access to nutrition counseling services from anywhere. All visits are conducted via video through our HIPAA-compliant electronic medical record and client portal system.

A:  First, activate your account:

• Look for an email invitation from Practice Better.

• Follow the link in the email to Create a New Account.

Second, access your account:

• Download the Practice Better app on your phone, or visit www.practicebetter.com.

• Log in using your email and password.

Need help?
Watch this short video for a quick walkthrough on how to activate your Practice Better account and join your session.

A: Everyone is different, so there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Your registered dietitian will work with you to develop a cadence that will set you up for success. Nutrition therapy is most effective if done consistently, so we typically work with clients on a weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly basis, depending on their goals, personal needs, and insurance coverage.

A: Initial nutrition appointments are 60 minutes. Follow-up appointments can be scheduled for 45 minutes or 60 minutes. Your registered dietitian can help advise the best length for follow-up appointments based on your goals and frequency of visits.

A: No, there is no set number of appointments required. However, we encourage you to take advantage of all of your insurance-covered visits (as determined by your plan) to maximize your health, nutrition, and results. Your registered dietitian can advise you on the best plan for appointments based on the number available to you via your insurance coverage.

A: Yes, many of our registered dietitians offer evening and weekend appointments. When booking your initial appointment, please choose the dietitian that has your preferred availability. For follow-up appointments, you can work with your dietitian to schedule times that best fit your schedule and availability.

A: Yes, The Sports Nutrition Playbook partners with Rupa Health to order labs and additional tests for clients. Your dietitian can answer questions, help advise on labs to be run, and order labs through our secure client portal. While labs are offered at a discounted rate, please note that labs ordered through The Sports Nutrition Playbook are not covered by insurance and will incur a self-pay fee.

A: Yes, once you book your first appointment, you will be sent new patient forms to be completed in our secure client portal. Please complete all forms at least 48 hours before your scheduled appointment.

A: If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment, we respectfully ask for 24 hours notice. You can cancel or reschedule your visit free of charge at any time if it is more than 24 hours in advance of your scheduled appointment. This can be done in your secure client portal. If you need to cancel or reschedule less than 24 hours in advance, please send a direct message to your registered dietitian in the client portal.

If the cancellation is less than 24 hours before your scheduled appointment, you will be responsible for a $50 late cancellation fee. If the reschedule is less than 24 hours before your scheduled visit, you will be responsible for a $25 late reschedule fee.

A: You can reschedule or cancel your scheduled appointment at any point free of charge if it is more than 24 hours in advance. If the cancellation is less than 24 hours before your scheduled visit, you will be responsible for a $50 late cancellation fee. 

If you do not show up for your scheduled appointment time and do not contact us within 24 hours, this will result in a no-show fee of $50. Exceptions can be made for extenuating circumstances or scenarios out of your control.

A: We are excited to work with you and help you meet your nutrition and health goals! Please complete our insurance form to verify your benefits.

If you are a self-pay client and do not want to pay with insurance, please book an appointment HERE.