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Press Release - Ada And Medicare Reform Legislation

Publication Date: 12/22/2003

Medicare reform legislation has passed the US Congress in November 2003, and has been signed by the President. See An act to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary prescription drug benefit under the medicare program and to strengthen and improve the medicare program, and for other purposes.

After the legislation had passed, the American Diabetes Association sent out the following letter:

By now you have probably heard about the Medicare legislation that was passed in Congress this week. You may also have heard some negative reports about it. The American Diabetes Association supported this legislation and applauds its passage. The Association believes that, in the long run, this legislation will help improve the lives of people affected by diabetes. Specifically it offers:
  1. New coverage of insulin and syringes for seniors living with diabetes who purchase the new prescription drug coverage;
  2. New coverage of islet cell transplant expenses for seniors and other Medicare enrollees participating in islet cell transplant clinical trials;
  3. 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. 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 our concerns and specifically stated that diabetes should receive attention during this one-time physical.
These four points are the main reasons that the Association considers the passage of this legislation a victory for people with diabetes. As updates regarding implementation of this legislation become available, we will share them with you, particularly if there are things that seniors need to do to take advantage of these changes.

Sincerely,

Your Advocacy Team at the American Diabetes Association

American Diabetes Association Statement on Pending Medicare Reform Legislation

 For Immediate Release

Contact: Kendra Gutschow
(703) 549-1500 ext. 2146

November 20, 2003

The American Diabetes Association is pleased that the Medicare reform legislation pending before Congress contains important improvements to the Medicare program that will benefit many people living with or at risk for diabetes. Some of the new benefits in the package include Medicare Part B coverage of diabetes diagnostic screenings for seniors at risk for diabetes as well as coverage of a one-time, preventive "Welcome to Medicare Physical" for seniors upon entry into the Medicare program.

Additionally, the prescription drug package assists seniors living with diabetes by providing coverage for insulin and syringes, a critical component for seniors that take insulin to manage their diabetes.

Based upon these improvements, the American Diabetes Association supports passage of - and strongly urges Congress to enact - the Medicare package as a way to improve the lives of millions of seniors living with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes.

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Also see

Other webpages about Medicare and diabetes


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