American Association of Diabetes Educators calls for provider status

CHICAGO  – At its annual meeting on Wednesday attended by more than 3,000 diabetes educators, The American Association of Diabetes Educators called on Congress to pass legislation that would result in more people with diabetes gaining access to diabetes education. 

 

The association supports two companion bills, H.R. 1726, and S. 1345, which are currently before Congress and are known as The Access To Quality Diabetes Education Act of 2015.

 

The legislation would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to recognize credentialed diabetes educators as providers of diabetes education services, including tele-health services, under part B of the Medicare program.

 

Teaching patients how to effectively control their diabetes through diabetes self-management training is considered one of the most important and cost effective tools in the arsenal for diabetes treatment and the avoidance of deadly diabetes-related complications. 

 

Diabetes education also results in a reduced need for hospitalizations. 

 

Diabetes education is a covered benefit; however, many patients do not have access because Medicare does not currently recognize credentialed diabetes educators, who are state licensed or registered health professionals with additional educational credentialing in diabetes, as diabetes education providers.