U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen, who serve as Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation on Mar. 11 aimed at improving access to diabetes technologies and education for Medicare beneficiaries.
The proposed Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology and Education Services (DIABETES) Act seeks to address ongoing challenges faced by diabetic patients when enrolling in Medicare, including disruptions in care and limited access to essential technology and training.
“Delays or disruptions in coverage of diabetes technologies can cause a decline in patient health, particularly for those enrolling in Medicare,” said Senator Collins. “Our bipartisan legislation would streamline coverage for insulin pumps while expanding diabetes education and training for patients and providers, improving care for those managing this disease.”
Senator Shaheen said, “Diabetes is a lifelong illness that requires constant monitoring and treatment—and yet, too many patients experience disruptions in care or lack the training and technology to adequately manage it. Americans living with diabetes should not have to jump through hoops to access life-saving care.”
The DIABETES Act builds on previous efforts by both senators, such as their Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act, which aims to expand Medicare coverage of self-management training sessions led by diabetes educators. The new bill also proposes exempting insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors from the Medicare competitive bidding process for five years—a move prompted by concerns that recent proposals could limit patient access to these devices.
The legislation has received endorsements from several organizations including the American Diabetes Association, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, and the Diabetes Technology Access Coalition.
As leaders of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Collins and Shaheen have also advocated for measures addressing high insulin costs through their Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act. This separate bipartisan effort aims to make insulin more affordable by removing barriers to care.
