Andorran Dietitians Approve Pilot Integration into Public Health Insurance

The Andorran College of Dietitians and Nutritionists has approved its affiliation to the CASS public health insurance system with a strong majority, launching a one-year pilot program to integrate the profession into public services.

College officials confirmed the vote took place on Wednesday, 4 February, with 20 members in favour and one abstention among roughly 30 registered professionals. The agreement with the Ministry of Health was finalized before Christmas, but internal discussions and scheduling issues delayed the ballot by about two weeks after an initial target date.

Under the deal, dietitians-nutritionists will provide services through shorter consultations—around 30 minutes each, priced per visit—compared to typical private sessions. Participation remains voluntary, allowing professionals to continue private practice with their own rates. Patients will access limited blocks of sessions for specific conditions, renewable in some cases, with additional visits handled privately.

Alice Dénoyers, a college board member, told *El Periòdic* the pilot aims to recognize the profession's role in preventive health. "It's important that society acknowledges our work," she said, noting successes in private care often go unseen. She highlighted benefits like averting type 2 diabetes through early intervention, aiding both patients and the system.

During the year-long trial, the group plans to test the model, fix issues, and propose improvements. The ministry has pledged ongoing dialogue for potential changes, such as expanding covered conditions. At the end, the college and Health will review operations and finances.

Full rollout awaits administrative approvals, including the services committee, CASS board, and Council of Ministers. Officials expect delays of several months, though Dénoyers expressed confidence in smooth progress. She noted uncertainty over how many of the roughly 30 members will join but anticipates distribution by specialty, as in other health fields. The integration, she added, should have occurred years ago given nutrition's preventive value.