[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 185 (Tuesday, November 19, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6673-S6674]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mrs. Shaheen):
  S. 2901. A bill to establish within the Office of the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services a special task force on ensuring Medicare 
beneficiary access to innovative diabetes technologies and services; to 
the Committee on Finance.
  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
with my fellow co-chair of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, Senator Jeanne 
Shaheen, which would improve access to innovative diabetes 
technologies. Our bill, the Improving Medicare Beneficiary Access to 
Innovative Diabetes Technologies Act, would create a special task force 
at the Department of Health and Human Services to examine and address 
barriers that seniors face in accessing the latest diabetes management 
technologies.
  Since I founded the bipartisan Senate Diabetes Caucus in 1997 Federal 
funding for diabetes research has tripled from $319 million to more 
than $1 billion last year, and these research dollars are yielding 
results. This past summer, the Aging Committee held a hearing in 
conjunction with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Children's 
Congress titled ``Redefining Reality: How the Special Diabetes Program 
is Changing the Lives of Americans with Type 1 Diabetes.'' We heard 
compelling testimony from Dr. Griffin P. Rodgers, Director of the 
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and 
JDRF President and CEO Dr. Aaron Kowalski on the pipeline from private-
public research to commercially available products.
  New diabetes technologies--such as the artificial pancreas and 
implantable continuous glucose monitoring systems--allow diabetes 
patients to better manage and improve glycemic control, assess needed 
therapy on a timely basis, and adhere to treatment regimens. These 
technological advances make diabetes easier to manage. The market 
arrival of cutting-edge diabetes technologies, however, does not 
immediately benefit patients if our nation's seniors are unable to 
afford them.
  As Chairman of the Aging Committee, I have heard from numerous 
seniors who, when transitioning from employer-provided insurance to 
Medicare, were shocked to learn that the technologies they have relied 
upon for years to manage their diabetes are no longer covered. For 
example, one Mainer was unfortunately met with the reality that 
Medicare's coverage denial of a particular sensor he needs for his 
insulin pump means paying up to $8,000 out-of-pocket each year if he 
wants to continue with his current treatment regimen. He wrote, 
``Because I am now 65, I am denied care that was available when I was 
64.'' He continued, ``This approach not only puts me at risk but is 
quite likely not cost effective. While the sensors are expensive, the 
cost of ambulance calls and hospitalizations . . . is certainly more.''
  I couldn't agree more. To better support adoption of these 
technologies, our bill would require HHS to create a special task force 
on coverage and payment for innovative diabetes technologies that would 
bring all stakeholders--from patients to device manufacturers to 
government officials who are making coverage decisions--to the same 
table. The Task Force would identify and plan for changes in Medicare 
coverage and payment policies to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries 
have access to innovative diabetes technologies that are currently 
available, as well as those that are in the pipeline. The Task Force 
would also be tasked with developing strategies for supporting adoption 
of these technologies.
  This effort builds on my past advocacy with Senator Shaheen to 
improve the day-to-day life of individuals with diabetes by improving 
coverage of innovative diabetes technologies. In January 2017, in 
response to our bipartisan effort, CMS first approved the use of 
continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). We also successfully urged CMS last 
year to support the use of smartphone apps in conjunction with CGMs. 
These proven, lifesaving devices are relied upon by people with 
diabetes to provide them with real-time measurements of their glucose 
levels. This information is key to preventing costly--and sometimes 
deadly--diabetes complications.
  While I am pleased our advocacy has helped spur these policy changes, 
I remain frustrated with the pace at which Medicare lags behind 
commercial insurers. Greater adoption of new diabetes technologies can 
literally change our country's future with regard to addressing the 
explosive growth in the financial and human tolls of diabetes. Diabetes 
accounts for an exorbitant one in three dollars in Medicare spending. 
It is paramount that we encourage HHS to adopt a more cost-effective 
approach to treating this chronic disease that affects more than 30 
million Americans.
  The Improving Medicare Beneficiary Access to Innovative Diabetes 
Technologies Act encourages a proactive approach to diabetes technology 
coverage and payment, and I encourage my colleagues to support its 
adoption.
  Thank you, Mr. President.

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