June 29, 2021
** Bipartisan bill would expand access to services that improve wellbeing and reduce the risk of diabetes-related deaths or heart attacks for diabetics **
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, led a bipartisan group of Senators to deliver training on Expanding Access to Diabetes Self -Management to reintroduce action. This bipartisan legislation would expand Medicare coverage for diabetes self-management (DSMT) trainings, where diabetes instructors help Medicare patients control their glucose, maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy foods, their insulin levels to control and general care to improve their diabetes. DSMT has been linked to a reduction in the risk of diabetes-related death and heart attack and has been linked to improved self-care behavior and well-being, which can significantly reduce hospital costs.
“Diabetes is a long-term and sometimes lifelong disease, so it is critical that patients and caregivers have the tools they need to manage their health or the health of their loved ones,” said Senator Shaheen. “Diabetes self-management training can reduce diabetic emergencies, provide patients and families with the knowledge they need to be independent, lower healthcare costs, and improve outcomes. Millions of Americans live with diabetes, and millions more are at risk of developing this life-threatening disease. Because of this, I’m excited to be working with Senator Collins on bipartisan legislation to increase resources for affected Medicare beneficiaries. I will continue to work across the aisle to support federal efforts investing in diabetes research and treatment and ultimately a cure. “
“Diabetes Self-Management Training provides Americans living with diabetes with vital tools to help them manage their disease successfully,” said Senator Collins. “Through education and patient engagement, our bipartisan legislation would lower health care costs by avoiding health complications and hospital stays. I urge my colleagues to join Senator Shaheen and myself in upholding this law to common sense. “
Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes and another 79 million have prediabetes, a condition that, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), leads to diabetes without early intervention. The CDC estimates that if current trends continue, one in three Americans will have diabetes by 2050. Diabetes is the seventh leading killer in the United States and can lead to many other chronic diseases and conditions, such as blindness and kidney failure. As one of the most expensive chronic diseases, diabetes costs the American healthcare system billions of dollars each year. Overall, one in ten healthcare dollars is spent on diabetes and its complications, and one in three Medicare dollars is spent on the disease.
As co-chairs of the Diabetes Caucus Senate, Shaheen and Collins worked together to raise awareness of the threats posed by diabetes, invest in research, and improve access to treatment options. Shaheen and Collins have consistently blamed insulin makers, insurers, and pharmacy service managers for the skyrocketing costs of life-saving insulin.
In response to the Senators’ bipartisan efforts, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) first approved the use of Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) in January 2017 and allowed Medicare benefit recipients to use smartphone apps in conjunction with CGMs in June 2018 This month, Shaheen and Collins passed legislation to give seniors easier access to breakthrough diabetes technologies such as the artificial pancreas and implantable continuous glucose monitoring systems.
The text of the draft law is available here. The legislation is also supported by Senators King (I-ME), Cramer (R-ND), Smith (D-MN), Sinema (D-AZ), Stabenow (D-MI), Brown (D-OH), Van . carried along by Hollen (D-MD) and Peters (D-MI).
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