Senators Collins, Shaheen Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Access to Diabetes Treatments, Education for Medicare Beneficiaries

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Co-Chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, introduced bipartisan legislation today aimed at improving access to diabetes technologies by responding to the ongoing and increasing need for diabetes technology education among Medicare beneficiaries. The bipartisan Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology and Education Services (DIABETES) Act would ensure care for diabetic patients is not interrupted when they enroll in Medicare.

"Delays or disruptions in coverage of diabetes technologies can cause a decline in patient health, particularly for those enrolling in Medicare," said Senator Collins. "Our bipartisan legislation would streamline coverage for insulin pumps while expanding diabetes education and training for patients and providers, improving care for those managing this disease."

"Diabetes is a lifelong illness that requires constant monitoring and treatment-and yet, too many patients experience disruptions in care or lack the training and technology to adequately manage it. Americans living with diabetes should not have to jump through hoops to access life-saving care," said Senator Shaheen.

The DIABETES Act builds on previous efforts by Senators Collins and Shaheen to improve diabetic patients' access to needed treatment, including their Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act-a separate but related bipartisan bill they introduced to expand Medicare coverage of diabetes self-management training sessions, where diabetes educators help train Medicare patients on how to manage the disease and use complex diabetes technologies.

The bill also includes a provision exempting insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) from the Medicare competitive bidding process for 5 years. This comes after Senators Collins and Shaheen urged Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz not to finalize a proposal the lawmakers warned could reduce and complicate patient access to CGMs and durable insulin pumps.

The DIABETES Act has been endorsed by the American Diabetes Association, Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, and the Diabetes Technology Access Coalition.

Click here for the complete text of the bill.

As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senators Collins and Shaheen have also consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin. Their bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would comprehensively address the soaring cost of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans.

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