Statement attributable to:
Andrew W. Gurman, M.D.
President, American Medical Association
“On World Diabetes Day, we must rededicate ourselves to reaching the 86 million Americans living with prediabetes — the precursor to type 2 diabetes — especially the 90 percent who are unaware of the risk they face.
“Through Prevent Diabetes STAT, a national partnership launched with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2015, the AMA has been steadfast in its mission to increase screening for prediabetes and refer those with the condition to evidence-based diabetes prevention programs (DPPs). These programs have been shown to help participants cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by more than half.
“We are very pleased that these programs will soon be available to Medicare patients at risk of developing this debilitating disease. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its final rule last week to expand coverage of the Medicare DPP model — ensuring at-risk seniors and people with disabilities have access to an evidence-based DPP that can help them lower their risk factors and prevent or delay the progression to type 2 diabetes.
“The expansion underscores the success of a three-year demonstration project of the YMCA of the USA, funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, where the AMA partnered with local YMCAs and 26 physician practice sites in eight states to increase physician referrals of individuals with prediabetes to evidence-based DPPs at local YMCAs. The pilot program projected an estimated savings of $1.3 billion, prompting CMS to conclude earlier this year that the expanded coverage would result in significant cost savings.
“The AMA continues to build on these efforts through its latest work with the Michigan State Medical Society to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Michigan — developing models for screening, testing and referring that can be used throughout the country to help individuals with prediabetes prevent or delay type 2 diabetes and improve health outcomes.”
Media Contact:
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association is the physicians’ powerful ally in patient care. As the only medical association that convenes 190+ state and specialty medical societies and other critical stakeholders, the AMA represents physicians with a unified voice to all key players in health care. The AMA leverages its strength by removing the obstacles that interfere with patient care, leading the charge to prevent chronic disease and confront public health crises and, driving the future of medicine to tackle the biggest challenges in health care.
