ON IT Movement Hosts Congressional Briefing Panel on Type 2 Diabetes Epidemic

By Ava Runge and Kelly Close

The ON IT Movement recently hosted a congressional briefing panel at the US Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. The goal of the panel was to urge Congress to pass laws to improve research, access, reimbursement, and ultimately the lives of people with type 2 diabetes. Speakers included:

• Dr. Phil McGraw (“Dr. Phil”), TV personality and former clinical psychologist

• Dr. George Grunberger, AACE President

• Dr. Robert Ratner, ADA Chief Scientific and Medical Officer

• Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Diabetes caucus co-chair

• Our very own Kelly Close, Founder of The diaTribe Foundation

• Congressman Tom Reed, who closed out the event with a discussion of his own type 2 diabetes, which he shared is currently in remission

A major theme of the discussion was the importance of legislation supporting diabetes prevention and education. Dr. Ratner shared his belief that the government should place a greater focus on preventing diabetes through “expanding prevention education, identifying new sources of innovation, helping more healthcare providers, and improving the pipeline of young people becoming diabetes educators and endocrinologists.” He also noted that while the cost per person with diabetes is rising slower than overall medical inflation, overall costs are skyrocketing due to the high rate of new diabetes cases – “we need to support people at risk and prevent diabetes before it even happens,” he said.

During his opening remarks, Dr. Grunberger also highlighted the sky-high prevalence of diabetes and its cost, both of which are reaching “not only national but global epidemic proportions."

In addition, Dr. Phil provided remarks on the importance of policies that support diabetes education and nutrition programs, emphasizing the need to fund wellness and awareness. Ms. Close focused on prevention as well, highlighting Secretary Sylvia Burwell’s exciting announcement to expand Medicare reimbursement for diabetes prevention programs. According to Ms. Close, administering the National Diabetes Prevention Program to Medicare seniors with prediabetes both improved the quality of care they received and lowered Medicare costs – this is transformational news for seniors at risk and the healthcare system as a whole.

The panel also addressed the potential to improve diabetes outcomes through expanding access to therapies and improving incentives for doctors and nurses. On the former, Ms. Close discussed the need for affordable insurance for people with chronic diseases and Medicare reimbursement of CGM. She also emphasized the need to close the “disparity gap” through expanding Medicaid and other resources. On the clinical side, multiple panelists expressed concern for the demoralization of the healthcare workforce, advocating for improved reimbursement for doctors, nurses, and diabetes educators. Indeed, in 2014, 81% of physicians described themselves at overextended or at full capacity, with only 44% in 2013 describing their morale as “positive” (compared to 32% in 2012).

Panelists also vocalized support for three pieces of diabetes legislation introduced by diabetes caucus members. Dr. Grunberger was especially emphatic on the need to pass such laws to improve access to prevention programs, therapies, and support for people with diabetes. He focused on the fact that the federal government has made great advances in terms of funding diabetes programs and studies (e.g. DCCT, EDIC, DPP, DPP-OS, ACCORD, VADT. LOOK-AHEAD, etc.), yet their outcomes are not being implemented effectively for the prevention of diabetes and its complications. To that end, Dr. Grunberger argued for more rational allocation and coordination of federal funding to better leverage the resources the government has already expended. He stated that while the private sector can address drug and device development, only the government can promote larger-scale societal approaches for lifestyle modification and expanded access to cutting edge therapies. See below for details on each act:

• The Medicare CGM Access Act (H.R. 1427) was introduced to the house in March 2015 by Representative Tom Reed and will amend the Medicare section of the Social Security Act to provide Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors (CGM).

• The National Diabetes Clinic Care Commission Act (H.R.1192, S. 586) was also introduced to Congress in early 2015 and will amend the Public Health Service Act to establish the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission, which will oversee measures to support clinical care for people with diabetes, prediabetes, and diabetes complications.

• The Protecting Access to Diabetes Supplies Act (H.R. 771) was introduced to Congress in February 2015 and is still in committee. The legislation is sponsored by Ms. Diana DeGette (D-CO) – co-leader of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus – and proposes an amendment to the Social Security Act that will protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to test strips.

The ON IT Movement is a diabetes awareness campaign launched in 2016 by Dr. Phil McGraw (from the popular “Dr. Phil” website and TV show) in partnership with pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The campaign leverages Dr. Phil’s personal experience of living with type 2 diabetes for 25 years, and seeks to empower and motivate adults with type 2 diabetes to engage in successful self-management. The site also promotes Bydureon, a once weekly GLP-1 agonist for people with type 2 diabetes.  ON IT promotes six “rules to get on it!” – including 1) Moving forward, 2) Get Educated, 3) Build Your Team, 4) Replace Bad Habits, 5) Make a Plan, and 6) Stick with it. See more about the ON IT movement here. 

Photo Credit: @AstraZenecaUS