The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is advocating in Washington, D.C. and throughout the states, to maintain the Public Health Emergency (PHE) until there is adequate data showing that it is safe for this measure to be lifted. The PHE was implemented at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that individuals could receive necessary health care services without the risk of contracting the deadly coronavirus; the current PHE is set to expire on July 15, 2022.
The PHE, which has been consistently updated and extended since it was first implemented in January 2020, provides a broad range of flexibilities for people with diabetes including but not limited to:
- Relaxing in-person visit requirements for Medicare coverage of diabetes technologies like continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and insulin pumps.
- Allowing seniors on Medicare to use the telephone (audio-only) for a covered telehealth interaction with a provider if they did not have access to the internet.
- Expanding access to health insurance through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Plan (CHIP) through a requirement for continuous coverage.
The ADA knows how important it is for individuals with diabetes to maintain adequate health insurance, be able to speak to their health care providers in a safe environment when necessary and have consistent access to their and diabetes management technologies. ADA continues to advocate for patients to remain on their current health insurance plans and have access to the necessary technologies to which they have grown accustomed.
We are grateful that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has been able to provide safe healthcare access to our community during this time of uncertainty, and we will continue to work hard to ensure that continues!
Safe at School
Save the Date for Safe at School’s Virtual Back-to-School Sessions
Safe at School will be offering two virtual workshops this summer to help families and schools get ready to begin the 2022-23 school year. A workshop for parents/guardians of children with diabetes covering legal protections, resources, written plans, and communication tips will be held on Thursday, July 21st and a school nurse/diabetes educator roundtable will be held on Thursday, July 28th at 2:30 ET. More information will soon be available on the Safe at School homepage.
Diabetes School Plan Template Available
The Safe at School program is now offering a new Diabetes Medical Management Plan (DMMP) for use by schools and pediatric diabetes health care providers nationwide. This new fillable pdf form facilitates more standardized, efficient completion of student diabetes care orders, enabling prescribers to tailor care instructions to individual students and providing greater clarity for school nurses and other school caregivers.
Get Involved
Would you be interested in attending meetings with state or federal elected officials to advocate for diabetes research, prevention program funding, access to technology like CGM’s and affordable insulin? Please email raiseyourvoice@diabetes.org with your contact information and home address.
Support Affordable Insulin & Health Equity
Two important bills have been introduced in the House of Representatives, and your lawmaker needs to hear from you. Will you stand up for Americans living with diabetes and pre-diabetes? Contact your legislator today in support the Affordable Insulin for the COVID-19 Emergency Act and the Minority Diabetes Initiative Act!
As healthcare providers in an American Diabetes Association Education Recognized Program your voice is impactful and important!
Raise Your Voice: Engagement Platform
Make your voice heard.
ADA’s Engagement Platform makes it easy to use your voice to help support the diabetes community on the issues that matter most.
If you have questions please contact grassroots@diabetes.org.
State Government Affairs Resources
Advocacy Update - June 11, 2021
Over the past year, the ADA has focused on critical health equity issues including access to health care, drug affordability and research and prevention funding. As an ERP leader, you can play an important role in promoting advocacy that helps people with diabetes thrive. Watch the video below where you’ll learn about critical diabetes advocacy efforts and how you can use your voice to advance positive health policy for people with diabetes on both the state and federal level.