[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 77 (Thursday, May 22, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1056]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1056]]
   INTRODUCING THE ACCESS TO DIABETES SCREENING SERVICES ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 22, 2003

  Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to introduce the Access 
to Diabetes Screening Services Act of 2003. This common-sense 
legislation will ensure that Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes are 
diagnosed and treated as soon as possible.
  Diabetes is a serious, debilitating chronic illness that afflicts 
more than 17 million Americans, including 7 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 it until they develop one of its 
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 realize they 
have diabetes, or the 20 percent of Medicare beneficiaries who have 
pre-diabetes, a condition which, if left untreated, will develop into 
diabetes.
  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.
  Currently, Medicare does not cover diabetes screening, even if a 
patient has some of these risk factors. We must strengthen the Medicare 
program to ensure that individuals get treatment before it is 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 percent 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 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 support this legislation.

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