[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 104 (Tuesday, August 2, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               DIABETES TREATMENT AND HEALTH CARE REFORM

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
February 11, 1994, and June 10, 1994, the gentleman from Louisiana [Mr. 
Jefferson] is recognized during morning business for 2 minutes.
  Mr. JEFFERSON. Mr. Speaker, it is time that the Nation focus 
attention on diabetes research and prevention as we debate this health 
care issue.
  Diabetes, the fourth leading cause of death by disease, each year 
results in 12,000 cases of new blindness, 65,000 leg and foot 
amputations, and 13,000 cases of endstage renal disease.
  As many as 4.5 percent of the American population has diabetes. Yet 
14.6 percent of health care dollars are spent on this disease, 
approximately $105 billion.
  Medicare and Medicaid paid 42 percent of the diabetes cost of $44 
billion. The per capita annual health expenditure for people with 
diabetes was $9,493, more than three times the nondiabetic figure of 
$2,604.
  An NIH study has shown that early and comprehensive management of the 
disease rather than treatment after complications dramatically delays 
the risk and progression of diabetes.
  But few Americans receive this type of treatment. Periodic diabetes 
screening is not covered under private health plans or Medicare, even 
though the $10 cost of the test would save billions of dollars in the 
long run. I urge that, with focus on preventive services, health care 
reform must include early screening and comprehensive management of 
diabetes.

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