Committee backs requirement for physician nutrition education tied to rural health grant

The joint policy committee advanced Senate Bill 2401 on nutrition and metabolic‑health continuing education for licensed physicians, adopting a technical amendment and voting the measure out of committee.

Krista Fremming, with the Medical Services Division, told the committee the bill would require every physician licensed in North Dakota to complete at least one hour of continuing education on nutrition and metabolic health each renewal cycle. Fremming said the requirement was part of the state’s rural health transformation application to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and that the state earned grant points tied to the commitment.

“This bill ensures that every physician licensed in North Dakota will benefit from a better understanding of nutrition and metabolic health,” Fremming said in testimony supporting the measure. She framed the requirement as preventive care intended to reduce chronic disease burden, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

A public witness, Marvin Nelson of Rolla, described a personal experience with diabetes remission after dietary change and urged the committee to require physician training on nutrition. Nelson cited private‑sector programs and studies he said reported high remission rates and recommended that continuing education include emerging dietary approaches.

During committee consideration, lawmakers adopted an amendment to add the Board of Occupational Therapy Practice to the list of entities authorized to request background checks tied to licensure compacts, a change sponsors said corrected an omission from earlier statutory language. The amendment was adopted by voice vote and then the committee completed a roll‑call tally on the amended bill; the clerk recorded member votes and the chair announced the bill would move forward from the committee.

The committee’s action places the bill on a path to the full legislature with committee support and after alignment with the rural health transformation priorities named in the state’s CMS application.