Medicare coverage will soon feature a diabetes prevention program. | Courtesy of Shutterstock
+ Technology/Innovation
Amanda Rupp | Mar 29, 2016

Medicare coverage to include diabetes prevention program

The American Diabetes Association recently congratulated the acceptance of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) into the Medicare coverage program, thanks to a Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) extension.

"The association has spent the last eight years diligently advocating for Medicare coverage of the National DPP, and today's announcement is a powerful endorsement of the value of preventive health care for people who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes," American Diabetes Association CEO Kevin Hagan said.

This is a landmark achievement for U.S. preventive health care; approximately 86 million Americans are considered at the highest risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This is the first time that the National DPP has been eligible for coverage from Medicare, which is the insurance of choice for many U.S. citizens.

"The evidence shared today confirms the National DPP delivers cost savings to individuals who are at risk for developing diabetes and to our health care economy," Hagan said. "Most importantly, the National DPP showed improved health outcomes for participating individuals, demonstrating that interventions like the National DPP can help prevent many of our country's seniors from developing type 2 diabetes and its horrible complications, which can include blindness, amputation, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure."

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