Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Improve Diabetes Care

Strategic Insights -

US Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Susan Collins, the co-chairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, have introduced the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at improving care for patients with diabetes. The bill would authorize nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates/physician assistants (PAs) to prescribe therapeutic shoes, a crucial preventive measure to mitigate complications caused by diabetes. Therapeutic shoes can help prevent costly and painful complications, such as foot ulcers and calluses, and even amputations. The legislation is endorsed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Physician Associates.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act would allow NPs and PAs to prescribe therapeutic shoes for patients with diabetes, improving care and access to treatment.
  • Current law requires that patients with diabetes on Medicare who need therapeutic shoes be sent to a physician for certification, imposing additional costs and resulting in delays for patients in underserved and rural areas.
  • The legislation would authorize NPs and PAs to certify a Medicare beneficiary's need for therapeutic shoes, improving timeliness and access to care while reducing costs.
  • The bill is endorsed by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the American Academy of Physician Associates, representing over 431,000 nurse practitioners and physician associates nationwide.
  • Senators Shaheen and Collins have led action in the US Senate to advance priorities for diabetes care, including the bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act.
  • The legislation aims to improve care for patients with diabetes, particularly in underserved and rural communities, where access to care is often limited.

Statistics:

  • Over 431,000 nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician associates/physician assistants (PAs) support the Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act, representing the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) and the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) respectively.
  • Diabetic patients often benefit from the use of therapeutic shoes, which can help prevent costly and painful complications such as foot ulcers and calluses, and even amputations.
  • The current law imposing additional costs on the Medicare program by requiring the participation of an additional provider can result in delays for patients in underserved and rural areas, jeopardizing their overall health.
  • The Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act aims to improve timeliness and access to care for patients with diabetes, while reducing costs for the Medicare program.

Sources:

  • United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen (Washington, DC)
  • Senators Shaheen and Collins (R-ME) (Washington, DC)
  • American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP)
  • American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA)