Congressman Rice Introduces PREVENT DIABETES Act

Press Release

Today Congressman Tom Rice (R-SC), along with Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Tom Reed (R-NY), and G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) introduced The Promoting Responsible and Effective Virtual Experiences through Novel Technology to Deliver Improved Access and Better Engagement with Tested and Evidence-Based Strategies (PREVENT DIABETES) Act.

"Today I introduced the PREVENT DIABETES Act. Approximately 500,000 South Carolinians have diabetes. This legislation will expand virtual suppliers in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) to those in rural, minority, or medically underserved communities to help address disparities and improve lives. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we've learned just how important access is to virtual health services. My goal is to create policies that give South Carolinians and all Americans access to high quality, efficient health care services under Medicare. MDPP expansion will help empower residents and families to make healthier choices, so we can prosper as a community," said Congressman Tom Rice.

"More than 90 million Americans have either diabetes or pre-diabetes," said Congresswoman DeGette, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus. "Experts agree: The best way to treat Type 2 diabetes is to prevent it from developing in the first place. This legislation will help make more preventive resources available to more Americans - particularly seniors and those living in more rural areas of the country."

"Expanding virtual access to the Diabetes Prevention Program is incredibly important as it is a critical Medicare service. By doing this, we will ensure more Americans can utilize the informational resources they need to make healthy decisions. As Co-Chair of the Diabetes Caucus, we know how important it is to reduce the incidence of diabetes in the United States and support those Americans battling the disease," said Congressman Tom Reed, who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus.

"Over 3.5 million North Carolinians have prediabetes and this number continues to grow. We know that diabetes disproportionately affects minority communities, especially those living in rural and underserved areas. It is critical to support these vulnerable communities by leveraging every tool at our disposal and providing education and information on healthy choices that will help prevent the development of diabetes. It is especially important to know that diabetes is one of many health risks that increase the severity and likelihood of fatality for those who contract COVID-19. Increasing virtual access to the Diabetes Prevention Program will make it easier for people to access the vital information and care they need while minimizing their exposure to COVID-19 and its variants," said Congressman G.K. Butterfield.

Background:

According to the CDC, 13% of American adults have diabetes, including 26.8% of those aged 65 or older. Diabetes prevalence varies substantially by race/ethnicity, affecting 16.4% of Black adults, 14.9% of Asian adults, and 14.7% of Hispanic adults, versus 11.9% of White adults. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in South Carolina. Inclusion of virtual suppliers in MDPP could help to address these disparities and improve outcomes for older Americans across the board.

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model is a structured intervention with the goal of preventing type 2 diabetes in individuals with an indication of pre-diabetes. The primary goal of the expanded model is at least 5 percent weight loss by participants. The study found that lifestyle changes resulting in modest weight loss sharply reduced the development of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk for the disease.

This legislation is supported by ACT | The App Association, Alliance for Connected Care, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, American Telemedicine Association, Endocrine Society, Children with Diabetes, Chronic Disease Coalition, Connected Health Initiative, HealthyWomen, Noom, Omada Health, Patient & Provider Advocates for Telehealth, Teladoc Health, and WW.