Feds to expand Medicare diabetes prevention program

Federal officials proposed this week the expansion of a Medicare diabetes prevention program funded by the ACA (Source: “Medicare Proposes Expansion Of Counseling Program For People At Risk Of Diabetes,” Kaiser Health News, March 23, 2016).

The pilot program, developed and administered by the YMCA, helped Medicare enrollees at high risk of developing the disease improve their diets, increase their exercise and lose about 5 percent of their body weight.

Beneficiaries in the pilot program, funded by an $11.8 million grant provided by the health law, attended weekly meetings with a lifestyle coach to develop long-term changes to their diet, discussed ways to get more physical activity and made behavior changes that would help control their weight and decrease their risk of Type 2 diabetes. Participants could also attend monthly follow-up meetings to help keep their new habits in place.

Compared to other beneficiaries also at risk of developing diabetes, Medicare estimated savings of $2,650 for each program enrollee over a 15-month period, more than enough to cover the cost of the program, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.