How the New Medicare Legislation Will Affect Diabetics

The House and the Senate recently passed bills to overhaul the Medicare health care system, which will have a positive effect on diabetics who are covered by Medicare.

The American Diabetes Association supported the legislation to overhaul Medicare because of some provisions that prove positive for diabetes care for America's seniors.

Diabetics across the nation who are eligible for or covered by Medicare can be thankful for the following provisions in the bill:

(1) A provision allowing for new coverage of insulin and syringes for seniors living with diabetes who purchase the new prescription drug coverage.

(2) A provision allowing for new coverage of islet cell transplant expenses for seniors and other Medicare enrollees participating in islet cell transplant clinical trials.

(3) A provision allowing for new coverage for diabetes diagnostic screening tests for people who are at risk for diabetes (such preventive and diagnostic testing was previously prohibited by law).

(4) A provision allowing for new coverage for a physical upon a senior citizen's entry into the Medicare program. Plus, this physical (as defined by statute) will
also include coverage for diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy and diabetes screening tests. NOTE: The use of this specific language in the law documents that legislators listened to diabetics' concerns via ADA and specifically stated that diabetes should receive attention during this one-time physical.

These provisions were a major victory for diabetics across the nation who are eligible for Medicare coverage. If you would like to see more legislative victories for diabetics across the nation, click here to get involved and become a diabetes advocate today!

November is American Diabetes Month. You can help to cure diabetes by becoming a Diabetes Advocate or by becoming a member of the American Diabetes Association. Your help and support are both very deeply appreciated by diabetics across the U.S. and from all around the world.

-John Mudd

Article Author: Mr. Real Estate

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