The Endocrine Society is working with the Diabetes Congressional Caucus to increase support for various diabetes-related bills. On June 8, the Society participated in a Diabetes Congressional Caucus legislative briefing to provide information to congressional staff on diabetes legislation in the 114th Congress and to increase the number of co-sponsors on diabetes legislation. The Society gave a presentation on new legislation, the Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention, Access, and Care Act (HR 2651).
The briefing included background information for congressional staff on the challenge of diabetes and the legislative goals of the caucus as well as information about the following caucus leadership-sponsored bills:
• Protecting Access to Diabetes Supplies Act (HR 771)
• Medicare CGM Access Act (HR 1427)
• Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act (HR 1686)
• Access to Quality Diabetes Education Act (HR 1726)
• Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention, Access, and Care Act (HR 2651)
• Medicare Safe Needle Disposal Coverage Act (HR 1727)
• National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (HR 1192)
• Medicare Diabetes Prevention Act (HR 2102)
The Endocrine Society was one of the first advocacy groups to support the Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention, Access, and Care Act. Th is bipartisan bill promotes diabetes research, treatment, and prevention in minority populations. Th e bill includes provisions to increase research at the National Institutes of Health, enhance treatment and prevention programs administered through the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, and increase efforts by the Health Resources and Services Administration to strengthen the health workforce in underserved areas.