Diabetes Advocacy & Policy
Influence the future of diabetes care and education, and support people with or at risk of developing diabetes.
Diabetes Advocate
Spearheading Diabetes Policies That Improve Care
ADCES® is the premier organization working to advance policies that support the work of diabetes care and education specialists and remove barriers for people who need access to diabetes self-management education and support.
We are an active member of numerous national coalitions including the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, Diabetes Technology Access Coalition, Obesity Care Advocacy Network and many more. We work directly with Congress and the Administration and support our members as they engage in state and federal diabetes policy and advocacy initiatives.
Legislative Action Center
Support Diabetes Legislation
Make your voice heard on Capitol Hill by sending messages to your members of Congress on critical issues that affect diabetes care and education including the DSMT Act.
You can also track federal diabetes legislation to see which members have signed on to support the bill and whether there have been any relevant votes.
The ADCES® Legislative Action Center is updated throughout each Congress as bills are reintroduced, so check back often for new opportunities to advocate on diabetes bills.
Take Action NowDiabetes Legislation
Bills of Vital Importance to Diabetes Care and Education Specialists
Each year, we advocate for many bills before Congress. Much of this work is done through coalitions such as the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, the Obesity Care Advocacy Network, the Diabetes Technology Access Coalition and many more.
Our top federal legislative priorities focus on expanding access to diabetes care and education specialists for Medicare beneficiaries. This includes bills focused on improving and expanding access to diabetes self-management training (DSMT), medical nutrition therapy, and intensive behavioral therapy for obesity. It also includes bills that promote the permanent expansion of telehealth in Medicare.
Key Diabetes Legislation
Expanding Access to DSMT Act
Our top legislative priority, the Expanding Access to DSMT Act would improve several aspects of the Medicare DSMT benefit including removing the co-payment, allowing the initial 10 hours to never expire, and allowing DSMT and medical nutrition therapy to be delivered on the same day.
PREVENT DIABETES Act
The current Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) benefit allows care from traditional DPP programs like those affiliated with health systems or community-based organizations. This bill would allow CDC-recognized National DPP suppliers of virtual-only programs to apply to become MDPP suppliers.
Treat and Reduce Obesity Act
Despite recognizing obesity as a chronic disease, Medicare coverage of obesity care services is severely lacking. The Treat and Reduce Obesity Act (TROA) would expand the Medicare obesity counseling benefit to allow more practitioners to provide the service and would create coverage for anti-obesity medications within Medicare.
Permanent Medicare Telehealth Expansion
Access to telehealth in Medicare was greatly expanded at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, many of these flexibilities were extended through the end of 2024 and the CONNECT for Health Act and other telehealth-related bills would make this access permanent.
Medical Nutrition Therapy Act
Medicare currently only covers medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for beneficiaries with diabetes and kidney disease. The MNT Act would expand access to the benefit for people with prediabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and more.
Legislative Bill Tracker
Learn more about all of our federal legislative priorities in the ADCES Legislative Action Center.
Diabetes Policy Positions & Statements
Learn about our policy statements on issues including access to care, medicines, and technologies for diabetes self-management. Take a look at the letters and regulatory comments we’ve submitted on behalf of diabetes care and education specialists.
Learn MoreDiabetes Advocacy Forum
The diabetes Advocacy Forum on ADCES Connect is where you can find resources on how to be an effective diabetes advocate at the state and federal level.
Go to the Advocacy Forum
Public Policy Forum
Diabetes Advocacy Training
Take advocacy to the next level. ADCES members who want to advocate for the diabetes care and education profession can get in-depth diabetes advocacy training at our 2024 Public Policy Forum and Hill Day.
Learn More