A bipartisan bill recently introduced by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) would ensure Americans would receive continued access to diabetes technology when they enroll in Medicare.
Sen. Collins on Dec. 12 cosponsored the Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology and Education Services (DIABETES) Act, S. 5502, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). They are co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus.
If enacted, S. 5502 would improve access to diabetes treatments and respond to the ongoing need for diabetes technology education among Medicare beneficiaries.
“Delays or disruptions to coverage of diabetes technologies can significantly diminish patient health, particularly for those enrolling in Medicare,” Sen. Collins said. “This bipartisan legislation would streamline coverage for insulin pumps and expand education and training for patients and providers, improving care for individuals managing diabetes.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 38.4 million Americans (11.6 percent of the entire United States population) had diabetes as of 2021. The total number of individuals with diabetes is projected to increase to an estimated 54.9 individuals by 2030, according to the text of the bill.
Diabetes also disproportionately impacts the Medicare population, and in 2022, the CDC found that 26 percent of Medicare beneficiaries had diabetes, the text says.
“Far too often, Medicare beneficiaries have to jump through hoops to access life-saving diabetes care or are forced to change treatments simply because of outdated coverage requirements,” said Sen. Shaheen. “This bill would improve access to supportive services, eliminate disruptions in coverage, and remove significant obstacles so that those on Medicare can continue with the treatment regimens that work best for them.”
The Diabetes Technology Access Coalition supports S. 5502, which is under consideration in the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.