Brief Description: Requesting that certified diabetes educators be added as Medicare providers.

Sponsors: Representatives Hinkle, Cody and Santos.

Hearing Date: 1/31/06

Staff: Chris Blake (786-7392).

Background:

Diabetes is a disease where blood sugar levels are elevated due to the pancreas' inability to make or properly use insulin. The two most common types of diabetes are type 1 diabetes (previously called "juvenile diabetes") which accounts for approximately 5-10 percent of all cases of diabetes and type 2 diabetes (previously called "adult onset diabetes") which comprises approximately 90-95 percent of all diabetes cases. Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin and primarily affects younger people. Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body cannot use insulin properly and may occur at any age. It occurs in people who are overweight or have risk factors such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history, or certain ethnic backgrounds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that over 20 million people in the United States have diabetes.

There are currently two companion measures relating to diabetes educators pending before Congress. Under these bills, titled the "Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2005," the Department of Health and Human Services would allow certified diabetes educators who provide diabetes outpatient self-management training services to be reimbursed by Medicare. In addition, the Comptroller General of the United States would conduct a study to identify barriers to accessing diabetes self-management training, including economic and geographic barriers as well as access to qualified providers.

Summary of Bill:

Legislative findings are made expressing the prevalence of diabetes, the cost of diabetes, the benefits of chronic disease self-management plans for diabetes patients, the skills of certified diabetes educators, and the impact of the closure of diabetes education programs at hospitals.

The United States House of Representatives and United States Senate are requested to enact H.R. 3612 and S. 626 which relate to Medicare patients with diabetes.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.