AdvaMed Supports Bipartisan House Bill to Expand Diabetes Prevention Services for Medicare Beneficiaries

AdvaMed released a statement in support of the bipartisan PREVENT DIABETES Act, which was marked up today in the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. The legislation, introduced by Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), and Jason Crow (D-CO). It was also introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Scott (R-SC).

The Promoting Responsible and Effective Virtual Experiences through Novel Technology to Deliver Improved Access and Better Engagement with Tested and Evidence-based Strategies (PREVENT DIABETES) Act, would make virtual care a permanent option for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program.

“Medical technology has been at the forefront of diabetes management and treatment for decades, and rapid innovation by our members now enables patients to better detect prediabetes and prevent the onset of Type 2,” said Scott Whitaker, AdvaMed President and CEO. “It is critical that these life-changing and lifesaving medical technologies are available to patients in even the most remote communities. Telehealth is an essential tool in our fight against this condition, not to mention countless others, which is why we support the bipartisan PREVENT DIABETES Act to ensure rural Medicare beneficiaries who rely on virtual care have full access to the Diabetes Prevention Program. We thank Reps. DeGette, Bilirakis, and Crow for introducing this bipartisan House legislation, as well as the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee for moving this bipartisan legislation forward.”

Over 38 million Americans have diabetes, and nearly 100 million Americans aged 18 and older have prediabetes. Diabetes was the 8^th 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.