A. General

The Pritikin diet was designed and adopted by Nathan Pritikin in 1955. The diet was modeled after the diet of the Tarahumara Indians in Mexico, which consisted of 10% fat, 13% protein, 75-80% carbohydrates and provided 15-20 grams per day of crude fiber with only 75 mg/day of cholesterol. Over the years, the Pritikin Program (also known as the Pritikin Longevity Program) evolved into a comprehensive program that is provided in a physician’s office and incorporates a specific diet (10%-15% of calories from fat, 15%-20% from protein, 65%-75% from complex carbohydrates), exercise, and counseling lasting 21-26 days. An optional residential component is also available for participants.

B. Nationally Covered Indications

Effective for claims with dates of service on and after August 12, 2010, the Pritikin Program meets the intensive cardiac rehabilitation (ICR) program requirements set forth by Congress in §1861(eee)(4)(A) of the Social Security Act and in regulations at 42 C.F.R. §410.49(c) and, as such, has been included on the list of approved ICR programs available at http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/MedicareApprovedFacilitie/.

C. Nationally Non-Covered Indications

Effective August 12, 2010, if a specific ICR program is not included on the list as a Medicare-approved ICR program, it is non-covered.

D. Other

N/A

(This NCD last reviewed August 2010.)