government

Bill would offer Medicare diabetes prevention coverage

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Aug. 13, 2012

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Medicare patients would gain new coverage for diabetes prevention programs under legislation introduced in the Senate on Aug. 1.

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act of 2012 would create a new benefit in the national entitlement program. Beneficiaries would have access to a prevention program similar to one offered by the YMCA of the USA. That program offers nutrition and fitness education to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Nearly one-third of Medicare beneficiaries had diabetes and 67 million American adults had elevated glucose levels or prediabetes in 2010, according to a 2010 UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization study. More than half of the adult population will have type 2 diabetes or prediabetes by 2020 if current trends continue.

Medicare spending on diabetes and prediabetes is projected to be about $2 trillion between 2011 and 2020. The bill — introduced by Sens. Al Franken (D, Minn.), Richard Lugar (R, Ind.) and Jay Rockefeller (D, W.Va.) — aims to curb spending through prevention.

“By extending this program, we can help seniors stay happier and healthier and, at the same time, save our taxpayers billions of dollars every year,” Franken said.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/08/13/gvbf0813.htm.

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