DeGette Reintroduces Bill to Expand Access to Diabetes Prevention Program
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, the House Committee on Energy & Commerce’s Health Subcommittee held a hearing that included legislation introduced by Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) to make Medicare's Diabetes Prevention Program more accessible to Americans.
Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Scott (R-SC) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
“Tens of millions of Americans live with either diabetes or prediabetes,” said Rep. DeGette, Co-Chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. “Taking on diabetes requires a comprehensive approach to stopping type 2 diabetes before its onset. Our bill makes CDC-recognized diabetes prevention programs more accessible to Medicare beneficiaries at risk of diabetes, particularly those in rural areas and others who may not be able to attend an in-person diabetes prevention program. With a growing number of patients opting for virtual care, our PREVENT DIABETES Act will help more Americans learn about how they can avoid this disease.”
“It is often said that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is certainly the case with patients who are at high risk for developing diabetes,” said Rep. Bilirakis. “Through enhanced education, seniors will be empowered with tools they can use to optimize their health, avoid costly complications, and enjoy a better quality of life. This commonsense legislation will facilitate improved patient outcomes and save taxpayer money.”
“As the father of a Type 1 diabetic, I know how important consistent and reliable care is for patients’ health. This legislation will save lives by expanding access to virtual diabetes prevention programs and help to address racial health disparities among Black and Latino communities, which face higher rates of diabetes,” said Senator Warner.
“Too many South Carolinians in vulnerable communities are struggling to manage diabetes,” said Senator Scott. “Our bill aims to expand access to life-saving healthcare options by opening the door to virtual suppliers. We can and must ensure everyone in the Palmetto State—regardless of race, background, or zip code—has the support they deserve to manage their healthcare needs.”
The PREVENT DIABETES Act, or the Promoting Responsible and Effective Virtual Experiences through Novel Technology to Deliver Improved Access and Better Engagement with Tested and Evidence-based Strategies Act, would make virtual care a permanent option for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.
DeGette, Bilirakis, and Crow introduced the PREVENT DIABETES Act on April 2, 2024. The legislation is also cosponsored by Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA).
Over 38 million Americans have diabetes, and nearly 100 million Americans aged 18 and older have prediabetes. Diabetes was the 8th leading cause of death in the United States in recent years. This disease costs our country $412.9 billion every year in direct and indirect costs.
The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program is a health behavior change program to help Americans prevent type 2 diabetes. The program includes up to 16 weekly group sessions over a 6-month period. In these sessions, attendees receive training to make realistic, lasting behavior changes around diet and exercise, tips for getting more exercise, strategies to control weight, a specially trained coach, and support from people with similar goals and challenges.
The legislation DeGette and others introduced last week would require Medicare to make the diabetes prevention program available to qualifying beneficiaries both online and in-person – a move that proponents of the bill say will help to drastically expand the program's reach.
The legislation is supported by the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Medical Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, American Telemedicine Association, Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, Diabetes Leadership Council, the Endocrine Society, ERISA Industry Committee, Healthcare Leadership Council, National Kidney Foundation, Omada Health, Inc, Teladoc Health, Weightwatchers, and the YMCA.
A letter of support can be found here.