SB 5689

Brief Description: Concerning the scope and costs of the diabetes epidemic in Washington.

Sponsors: Senators Becker, Keiser, Dammeier, Frockt, Jayapal and McAuliffe.

Hearing Date: 3/24/15

Staff: Jim Morishima (786-7191).

Background:

Diabetes is a group of diseases in which the body's inability to produce or utilize insulin results in high blood glucose levels over a prolonged period of time. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce insulin and is usually diagnosed at an early age. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce enough insulin, the body is unable to utilize insulin properly, or both. Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects pregnant women.

Complications of uncontrolled diabetes include ketoacidosis, kidney disease, heart disease, eye disease, and damaged nerves in the extremities. Although there is no cure for diabetes, the disease can be managed through lifestyle changes, management of blood glucose levels, and medication, including insulin.

In 2013, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), and the Health Care Authority (HCA) were required to report on state efforts to prevent and control diabetes. The report was required to include:

• the financial impacts and reach that diabetes is having on the programs administered by the agencies and the participants in those programs;

• an assessment of the benefits of implemented and existing programs and activities aimed at controlling and preventing diabetes;

• a description of the level of coordination between the agencies on activities and messaging on managing, treating, or preventing diabetes;

• the development or revision of policy-related action plans and budget recommendations for battling diabetes; and

• an estimate of the savings, efficiencies, and costs of the recommendations.

In 2014, the DOH, the DSHS, and the HCA published the Diabetes Action Report. The report included the following recommended goals:

• ensure all appropriate populations have access to a diabetes prevention program;

• increase access to safe and affordable active living;

• increase access to healthy foods and beverages;

• ensure all people with diabetes receive self-management education from a diabetes prevention program;

• ensure people with diabetes and gum disease have access to guideline-based oral health treatment;

• enhance care coordination for people with diabetes and mental illness;

• ensure all appropriate populations have access to chronic disease self-management education programs;

• ensure the involvement of community health workers to address diabetes in populations with the greatest needs;

• increase stakeholder involvement in policymaking pertaining to diabetes; and

• support the Plan for a Healthier Washington's investment in analytics, interoperability, and measurement.

Summary of Bill:

The DOH, the DSHS, and the HCA must collaborate to identify goals and benchmarks while also developing individual agency plans to reduce the incidence of diabetes, improve diabetes care, and control the complications associated with diabetes. The agencies must each submit a biennial report to the Governor and the Legislature beginning December 31, 2017. The report must include:

• the financial impact and reach of diabetes has on programs administered by each agency and participants in those programs;

• an assessment of the benefits of implemented programs and activities aimed at controlling and preventing diabetes;

• a description of the level of coordination existing between the agencies on activities and messaging on managing, treating, or preventing diabetes;

• a development or revision of detailed action plans for battling diabetes; and

• an estimate of costs and resources required to implement the action plans.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Available.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.