quarterly policy update

Several bills in congress need our support. Please take a moment to read about them and reach out to your legislators to ask for support.

Last updated: December 30, 2021

Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) Act!

Ask your Legislators to Support the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) Act!

Write to your legislators today and urge them to support the Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act (H.R. 5804 and S. 2203). The legislation amends title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to outpatient DSMT services under the Medicare program. 

If enacted, this legislation would:

• Allow the initial 10 hours of DSMT to remain available until fully used.
• Permit DSMT and Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) services to be provided on the same day.
• Exclude DSMT services from Part B cost-sharing and deductible requirements.
• Permit physicians and qualified non-physician practitioners (e.g., podiatrists, emergency department providers, physician assistants, nurse practitioners or clinical nurse specialists) working in coordination with a treating physician or qualified non-physician to refer for DSMT services.
• Establish a Center for Medicare Innovation demonstration program to test the impact of covering virtual DSMT under the Medicare program.

We need to enlist the help of all diabetes care and education specialists and other stakeholders to build support for this legislation on Capitol Hill. Take action today!

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PREVENT DIABETES Act!

Take Action on the PREVENT DIABETES Act!

Representatives Tom Rice (R-SC), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Tom Reed (R-NY) and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) reintroduced the PREVENT DIABETES Act (H.R. 2807) in the U.S. House of Representatives. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Mark Warner (D-VA), along with Senators Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV.), Tom Cotton (R-AR.), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), and Tina Smith (D-MN.), reintroduced the Senate companion (S. 2173).

If passed, this legislation would allow CDC-recognized virtual suppliers to participate in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) Expanded Model.

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CONNECT for Health Act of 2021

Support the CONNECT for Health Act of 2021

U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hi), Roger Wicker (R-MS.), Ben Cardin (D-MD), John Thune (R-SD), Mark Warner (D-VA.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021 (S. 1512). This bipartisan legislation seeks to promote higher quality care, increased access to care, and decreased spending in Medicare by expanding telehealth services under the program.

Key provisions include allowing the Secretary of HHS to waive telehealth restrictions during national emergencies, disasters, and public health emergencies, establishing a model to test allowing additional health professionals, like physical, speech, or occupational therapists, physical or occupational therapy assistant, registered professional nurse, licensed practical nurses, or licensed certified social workers to provide telehealth services, and allowing for emergency medical services to be provided via telehealth.

ADCES signed on as an endorsing organization of this legislation. Click here to learn more about this legislation.

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Medicare Telehealth Services

Urge Congress to Permanently Expand Access to Medicare Telehealth Services

As telehealth becomes more widely utilized, healthcare providers, consumers, and advocacy groups have called on policymakers and legislators to make these temporary telehealth flexibilities permanent.  Congress has held a series of hearings examining the future of telehealth expansion, and many legislators have introduced legislation aimed at making some of the temporary changes permanent. ADCES has identified long-term telehealth priorities and have been advocating that Congress and the Administration make these changes. We also urge diabetes care and education specialists to contact their own members of Congress to advocate for these changes.

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