[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 137 (Thursday, October 17, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                MEDICARE COVERAGE OF DIABETES SCREENING

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 16, 2002

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, diabetes is a serious, debilitating, 
chronic illness that afflicts more than 17 million Americans, including 
seven million Medicare beneficiaries. This sometimes silent disease 
causes many serious complications, including heart disease, stroke, 
blindness, kidney failure and lower limb amputation. Unfortunately, 
more than one-third of people with diabetes won't realize they have it 
until they develop one of these deadly complications.
  Diabetes imposes an enormous financial burden on our health care 
system. More than 25 percent of the Medicare budget is currently 
devoted to providing medical care to seniors living with diabetes. 
Congress recognized the need to address this problem when it required 
Medicare coverage of blood-glucose monitors and diabetes education 
services in the Balanced Budget Act. While this was a positive 
development in our fight against diabetes, it has done little to help 
us diagnose and treat the 2.3 million seniors who do not know they have 
the disease.
  While diabetes is sometimes a silent disease, the risk factors are 
often obvious. Diabetes is prevalent among individuals who are 
overweight, aging, and lead a sedentary lifestyle. Other health 
conditions, such as gestational diabetes, high cholesterol, and 
hypertension often lead to diabetes. It is also more common in certain 
racial and ethnic groups, including Hispanics, African Americans, and 
certain Native Americans. Additionally, 20 percent of Medicare 
beneficiaries have pre-diabetes, which if left untreated, will develop 
into diabetes.
  Currently, Medicare does not cover diabetes screening, even if a 
patient has some of these risk factors. We must amend the Medicare 
program to ensure that individuals get treatment before it's too late. 
By testing high-risk individuals, we will be able to diagnose and treat 
individuals earlier on, and subsequently prevent many complications. 
Studies have shown that people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay 
the onset of type 2 diabetes by up to 58% through lifestyle 
interventions, including modest weight loss and increased physical 
activity.
  That is why I am introducing this legislation, which would require 
Medicare to cover diabetes screening under Part B. Diagnosing diabetes 
and pre-diabetes through testing, would improve the lives of our 
nation's seniors and prevent an increase over the already huge amount 
of the Medicare budget devoted to seniors with diabetes. In addition to 
improving the health and quality of life for millions of Americans, 
extending coverage to cover simple testing would save Medicare money in 
the long run by lowering the incidence of complications.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this legislation.

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