Kate Thomas, director of advocacy at the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, was recently named co-chair of the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance. The DAA represents a diverse groups of patient advocacy organizations, professional societies, trade associations and corporations sharing a common goal to defeat diabetes. Thomas will work within the coalition to engage member organizations and lawmakers to impact diabetes and prediabetes policy and care in the U.S.
“It is an important time to step into the co-chair position and I am honored and excited to elevate key issues affecting people with diabetes and prediabetes to the national agenda,” said Kate Thomas. “ Over the next year I hope to work with the DAA to develop policy solutions that increase access to telehealth and virtual services, utilize COVID-19 data to improve care, reduce health disparities and improve health equity.”
The DAA has public policy and legislative priorities in three areas: prevention of type 2 diabetes; improved screening and detection of those adults with prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes and gestational diabetes; and improved care for people whose diabetes has been diagnosed. Stakeholder coordination allows members of the diabetes community to speak with a unified voice when advocating before Congress and federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The alliance has prioritized issues critical to ADCES and its members. Recent actions have included advancing the Expanding Access to DSMT Act (H.R. 1840, S. 814), advocating for necessary improvements to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program and increasing access to diabetes technology.
About the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists:
ADCES is an interdisciplinary professional membership organization dedicated to improving prediabetes, diabetes and cardiometabolic care through innovative education, management and support. With more than 12,000 professional members including nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and others, ADCES has a vast network of practitioners working to optimize care and reduce complications. ADCES supports an integrated care model that lowers the cost of care, improves experiences and helps its members lead so better outcomes follow. Learn more at DiabetesEducator.org, or visit us on Facebook or LinkedIn (Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists), Twitter (@ADCESdiabetes) and Instagram (@ADCESdiabetes).