NCHC Enthusiastically Applauds Broader Medicare Coverage for Diabetes Prevention Program
Statement by NCHC President and CEO John Rother

“The National Coalition on Health Care enthusiastically applauds the administration’s support for expanding the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to Medicare beneficiaries across the country.

The best way to curb the cost of chronic disease is to prevent onset of the disease in the first place. More than a decade of real-world evidence has demonstrated that pre-diabetics who participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program develop diabetes at lower rates than comparable populations. That’s why NCHC has been proud to join with other stakeholders and Congressional champions in calling for coverage of the DPP under Medicare.  With today’s announcement, we learned that a pilot test of the DPP actually reduced Medicare expenditures while holding down the incidence of diabetes. HHS now has the clear authority to expand the DPP under current law.

With more than half of Medicare enrollees estimated to have pre-diabetes, the expansion of the DPP is critically important. But now Congress must take the next steps by bolstering discretionary federal funding for proven prevention programs like the DPP and by proceeding with broader chronic care legislation under development in the Senate Finance Committee.”

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The National Coalition on Health Care (NCHC), the oldest and most diverse group working to achieve comprehensive health system reform, is a 501(c)(3) organization representing more than 80 participating organizations, including medical societies, businesses, unions, health care providers, faith-based associations, pension and health funds, insurers and groups representing consumers, patients, women, minorities and persons with disabilities. Member organizations collectively represent – as employees, members, or congregants – over 100 million Americans.

Some members of NCHC do not, or cannot, take positions either on specific legislation, strategies or on any policies outside their respective mission areas. However, all that can, do endorse broad policy positions in support of comprehensive health system change.

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NCHC Enthusiastically Applauds Broader Medicare Coverage for Diabetes Prevention Program

MARCH 23, 2016 BY NISHA BHAT

“The National Coalition on Health Care enthusiastically applauds the administration’s support for expanding the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to Medicare beneficiaries across the country.

The best way to curb the cost of chronic disease is to prevent onset of the disease in the first place. More than a decade of real-world evidence has demonstrated that pre-diabetics who participate in the Diabetes Prevention Program develop diabetes at lower rates than comparable populations.”

See full press release: https://www.nchc.org/nchc-enthusiastically-applauds-broader-medicare-coverage-for-diabetes-prevention-program/