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Legislation Introduced To Compensate Diabetes
Educators
posted 05/29/04
When a person is diagnosed with diabetes, they have
some major lifestyle changes to make.
But not everybody can afford the expertise that guides them through making these changes. That’s where legislation co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison comes in.
Hutchison this week introduced legislation that would make Certified Diabetes Educators — trained health care professionals like nurses, pharmacists or dietitians — certified Medicare providers.
These educators teach people with diabetes how to live with their disease through a daily regimen of diet, exercise, meal planning, medication and blood sugar monitoring.
“This (bill) may allow people who simply are not taking care of themselves to start taking care of themselves if they had the funds to do it,” said Kay Travinski, executive director of Ameripark-Kerr-ville. “I think that’s part of the fear of diabetes — when you hear about it, you think it’s awful. But once you have that skill, once you learn that you can manage yourself, it’s not so scary to live with the disease.”
Across the country, more than 18 million Americans have been diagnosed with diabetes; about 8 million of them qualify for Medicare, Hutchison said. In Texas, 902,000 people have diabetes.
“Sadly, diabetes is on the rise in Texas,” Hutchison said in a press release. “We must act now to ensure those suffering from the disease have the tools they need to enjoy fuller lives and prevent diabetes complications.”
According to the University of Texas, diabetes costs Texas more than $4 billion every year.
Bruce Korbelik, administrator of the AmeriPark Care Center, said he has seen an increase in older people with diabetes, especially among the baby boomers.
“This (designation) is something that I feel is needed and probably can be beneficial, especially looking down the road,” said Korbelik, who supports the legislation. “I think it’s another aspect of trying to help people maintain their independence through education and through support services.”
Hutchison said allowing Certified Diabetes Educators to be reimbursed by Medicare would bring the services of more than 13,000 health care professionals across the country to diabetes sufferers seeking assistance in managing their illness.
According to the bill, which is in committee, people with the Certified Diabetes Educator designation must be certified with the National Certification Board of Diabetes Educators.
Source: Diabetes In Control.com.
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