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We need to ACT NOW if we want our legislation passed!
We are nearing the end of the 111th Congress and the November elections are right around the
corner. That means that we have a very small window of opportunity to get H.R. 2425 and S. 3211
passed. We need everyone who supports Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) to contact their
Members of Congress now.
Write to your House
Representatives about H.R. 2425.
Write to your
Senator about S. 3211.
Just imagine what would happen if this legislation was passed and all Certified Diabetes
Educators (CDE®) became recognized Medicare providers of Diabetes-Self Management Training! In our
continued quest to ensure that ALL patients have access to the highest quality DSMT, we could…
- Increase access to DSMT in rural and underserved populations.
- Attract other health care professionals to the practice of diabetes education.
- Position CDEs to negotiate for appropriate reimbursement for the services we provide.
This year, AADE members and others in the diabetes education community have made a lot of noise
on Capitol Hill. Together, we have been working to correct the oversight that excludes Certified
Diabetes Educators as Medicare providers of DSMT and correct the technical language in
the regulations.
This year, AADE members have sent more letters, made more calls, and conducted more visits than
ever before. Many of you have built strong relationships with your Members of Congress and have
made them aware of the important and critical service that Certified Diabetes Educators
provide.
However, all of this hard work is still not enough! Now is the time to demand that your Members
of Congress recognize this service by signing on as co-sponsors of H.R. 2425 and S. 3211!
H.R. 2425, the Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2009 introduced by
Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D-CO 1st), currently has 45 co-sponsors. And S.3211, the Medicare
Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2010 introduced by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH),
currently has 12 co-sponsors.
However, we need to increase this number dramatically to guarantee this legislation is passed in
the 111th Congress. There are 435 U.S. Representatives and 100 Senators and with AADE member
representation in all 50 states, the percentage of co-sponsors for this legislation is
proportionately underrepresented.
We need you and your colleagues to call and write your legislators, make visits and share your
stories with your Congressmen and Senators. Let your voices be heard; only YOU can affect this
change—there is no better lobbyist than you!
Many diabetes educators are finding that their programs are closing or downsizing. Now is the
time to ACT. We all must become advocates and finally get the recognition and reimbursement we
deserve!
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