Tackling system reform, health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid issues on Capitol Hill, Federal advocacy helps the American Diabetes Association (ADA) achieve federal legislative goals that allow people with diabetes coverage for and access to the treatments and services that they need to manage diabetes.

The American Diabetes Association urges Congress to make diabetes a priority.

 

Congressional Diabetes Caucus

The mission of the Congressional Diabetes Caucus is to educate members of congress and their staff about diabetes and to support legislative actives that would improve diabetes research education and treatment. 

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Co-Pay Cap for Insulin 

• Support a national co-pay cap for insulin, limiting out-of-pocket costs to no more than $35 per month for Medicare beneficiaries, individuals on commercial insurance, and those covered by other group health plans. The House already approved this measure, which would change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Americans forced to ration their insulin due to cost.

FY 2022 Government Funding 

• ADA urges Congress and the Administration to complete FY2022 appropriations before the March 11, 2022 deadline established under the current Continuing Resolution (CR) to support the 133 million Americans with diabetes and prediabetes. Any lapse in funding would threaten America’s research entities and stall medical breakthroughs that could benefit individuals living with diabetes. 
   
• Short-term CRs slow the pace of scientific innovation, add uncertainty to a system that is already under stress due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and create funding uncertainty for researchers and patients. In a 2009 GAO study, all six case study agencies reported that operating within the limitations of a CR resulted in inefficiencies such as delaying contract awards, deferring hiring and training, unnecessarily increasing redundant work, and ultimately costing taxpayers more money in the long-term. In the absence of final appropriations, federal agencies postpone research and prepare for potential lapses in funding.

FY 2023 Federal Funding Increases for Diabetes Research and Programs 

• Increase funding for the NIH’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), the primary federal agency that conducts research to find a cure and advance treatments for diabetes. This investment in NIDDK is needed to advance the nation’s efforts to develop new and superior treatments, enhance disease detection and management, improve the prevention of diabetes and its complications, and ultimately discover a cure. 
   
• Increase funding for the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT), whose mission is to eliminate the preventable burden of diabetes through research and education, and by translating science into clinical practice. This investment in the DDT will allow the CDC to build upon its innovative diabetes translational research, strengthen surveillance efforts, and expand national, state, and community programs. 
   
• Support a $50 million increase in SDP/SDPI funding to bolster the program during this very difficult time for Americans with diabetes. SDP provides critical funding for research toward a cure for type 1 diabetes and funding for type 2 diabetes prevention and management activities in Native American communities. 
   
• Increase funding for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), which can dramatically reduce the number of new diabetes cases in individuals with prediabetes.

Upcoming meetings will focus on ensuring Congress appropriates robust funding for diabetes research and prevention programs for Fiscal Year 2022, as well as health equity and access to affordable drugs, devices and care.  

Our goal is to educate lawmakers about issues important to people living with diabetes and remain in contact with them at crucial times during the year. Members of Congress want to hear from you—their constituents—to understand your priorities. Your story helps the cause of the diabetes community on Capitol Hill.

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For more information contact:
Matt Scott | Director, Legislative Affairs mscott@diabetes.org