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As many of you are aware advocacy is an integral part of the AADE mission and our members
are on the front line advocating for better care for all people with diabetes both at the federal
and state levels. So it is important that we identify the 2012 state legislative coordinators. A
complete job description can be viewed
here.
Each coordinating body (CB) should have, or are in the process of, identifying one person that
is passionate about advocacy as well as has a basic understanding of grassroots efforts to be a
part of that states leadership. This person will serve as the state legislative coordinator (SLC)
and will be trained by AADE staff and industry partners to be able communicate legislative issues
to their coordinating body, their diabetes community, fellow constituents and state and federal
representatives.
As we look toward the future of advocating for diabetes educators and diabetes education we are
excited to have this SLC designation and look forward to an information-packed training in
2012.
All coordinating body leaders should send the name and contact information of their state
legislative coordinator, as soon as possible, to James Specker, AADE Advocacy Manager at
jspecker@aadenet.org.
Any questions? Please contact James at 312.601.4873 or by email.
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A recent survey conducted by AADE finds that contract suppliers do not offer 60 percent of the
products promised on the center for medicare and medicaid services (CMS) website.
A survey conducted by the American Association of Diabetes Educators has found that nearly one
year after its implementation, a competitive bidding program for diabetes testing supplies is
failing to provide Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes access to the specific kinds of supplies
promised by Medicare.
The competitive bidding program for mail-order suppliers of diabetes testing equipment was
established in January 2011 for mail-order services in 9 markets throughout the US. Soon after,
widespread anecdotal reports suggested that the suppliers were denying access to the specific
brands and types of equipment that had been promised would be available on
www.medicare.gov.
To determine the veracity of these reports, the American Association of Diabetes Educators
surveyed contract suppliers in the nine markets via telephone in August 2011. Surveyors were
furnished with a list of contract suppliers and all 20 of the unique suppliers listed were
contacted.
The survey found that the contract suppliers, on average, offered only 38 percent of the
products that are listed on
www.medicare.gov. In some cases, suppliers offered products
that were not listed on www.medicare.gov. The results also demonstrated that beneficiaries in
competitive bidding areas do not have access to most brands available in the market, or to brands
most commonly prescribed by physicians and selected by beneficiaries. Of the 9 brands identified in
a December 2010 report as the top mail order diabetes testing supply brands by percent of market
share, contract suppliers offered an average of 1.44 brands (16%).
Testing systems are not interchangeable, and physicians often prescribe, and patients often
choose, particular meters for important clinical reasons. When a beneficiary is forced to use a
testing system that is unknown, difficult confusing or unreliable, their adherence to testing may
diminish, increasing the risk of complications which can be costly for Medicare and its
beneficiaries.
“Under the Competitive Bidding Program, contract suppliers have powerful incentives to maximize
profit margins by purchasing and offering a limited range of products, and only the lowest cost
products available,” said Martha Rinker, Chief Advocacy Officer of the AADE. “We believe this is a
violation of the intent of the program. And, while offering limited supplies may achieve short-term
Medicare program savings, the long-term reality is quite different for beneficiaries of the program
and for the overall health care system. Significant additional complications and resulting health
care expenditures will result if the quality of blood glucose management deteriorates.”
Contact:
David Harrison, 410.843.3869,
david@harrisoncommunications.net
Diana Pihos, 312.601.4864,
dpihos@aadenet.org
© 2011 AADE
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As we near the end of year we wanted to take a look back and recap all of our initiatives,
efforts and accomplishments in 2011.
The most significant accomplishment of 2011 was the passage of licensure for diabetes educators
in the state of Kentucky. State licensure ensures that all healthcare providers who deliver
diabetes education will have sufficient knowledge to provide safe, effective care to persons with
or at risk for diabetes. In addition, it increases recognition for the profession and reinforces
the highest standards of care. We look forward to working with our members as they seek
licensure in additional states.
On August 1st,
H.R. 2787 was
introduced by the Representative Ed Whitfield (R-KY-1) and original co-sponsor Representative Diana
DeGette (D-CO-1). On August 2nd,
S. 1468 was introduced
by Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and original co-sponsor Senator John Tester (D-MT). The
legislation stands to Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to improve access to diabetes
self-management training by authorizing credentialed diabetes educators to provide diabetes
self-management training services, including tele-health services, under part B of the Medicare
program.
There is still time to
take ACTION!
During the annual meeting in August we announced the selection of 16-year-old Logan Nicole
Gregory for our 2011 Advocacy Award. The award recognizes an AADE member, volunteer or other person
that has made significant contributions to AADE advocacy and legislative efforts. The award was
presented by Paul Madden (pictured below), chair of the AADE Foundation Board of Directors. Logan
was singled out for her contributions to the licensure of diabetes educators in the state of
Kentucky, her commitment to advocate on behalf of people with diabetes at the state and federal
level, and her support of diabetes educators and AADE’s advocacy mission. Logan was also the first
non-diabetes educator to win this award and his since been selected as the 2012 youth advocate for
the
American Diabetes Association (ADA).
In November we began building a relationship with diabetes patient advocate groups and the
diabetes on-line community (DOC) to strategize ways we can help support one another’s advocacy
agendas and strengthen the foundation of our advocacy networks. We are excited about this
opportunity and anticipate great things to come out of this effort in 2012.
Last but not least we would like to thank our industry partners,
Lifescan, Inc.,
Novo
Nordisk,
Eli Lilly and Company and
Roche Diagnostics, for
supporting the AADE advocacy mission in 2011 through 2012. With their support we have been able to
take the advocacy message on the road, building our advocacy network and educating AADE member
advocates!
From AADE Advocacy we would like to wish you all a safe and warm holiday season.
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In 2012 AADE Advocacy will continue to take the message out to the membership thanks to grants
from our industry partners.
AADE is hosting (sponsored by Lifescan, Inc. and Novo Nordisk) an advocacy day in Atlanta, GA on
January 26th to train and educate our member advocates and key folks in the southern region (TX,
OK, LA, AR, MS, AL, TN, GA, FL, SC, NC, VA, WVA, MD, and DE) on the licensure effort and advocating
at the state level. If you live in one of these states and have a strong interest in grassroots
advocacy please contact us @
advocacy@aadenet.org by January 11, 2012. There is no
charge for this meeting but space is limited, by state and total attendance, so please inquire as
soon as possible.
We will also hold an all-inclusive two-day advocacy training for AADEs state legislative
coordinators (SLCs). This two-day training is designed to build a network of leaders for diabetes
advocacy on the federal and state level through training, workshops and personal visits with
Members of Congress. The event will be held on April 16th and 17th in Washington, DC. If you are
your states SLC or need to know the guidelines please contact James Specker, AADE Advocacy Manager
@
jspecker@aadenet.org. Complete sponsor list will be
announced early 2012.
Be on the lookout for more news of where AADE advocacy will be holding meetings, trainings and
workshops.
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