Alexandria, VA
December 28, 2011
Contact Lauren Gleason
lgleason@diabetes.org
703-549-1500 ext. 2622

American Diabetes Association Announces 2012 Legislative Priorities in the Fight to Stop Diabetes®

The American Diabetes Association is pleased to announce its legislative priorities for 2012 , including both legislative and regulatory work the Association performs in targeted areas. Each year, the Association identifies the leading legislative priorities and policy goals as a key part of the effort to Stop Diabetes.

Nearly 26 million American adults and children are living with diabetes and an additional 79 million have prediabetes. The national price tag for diabetes is at an astounding $174 billion per year. Factoring in the additional costs of undiagnosed diabetes, prediabetes and gestational diabetes brings the total cost of diabetes in the United States to $218 billion.

“Diabetes is a serious disease that is taking a devastating physical and financial toll on our country. More needs to be done to end this epidemic,” said Janel Wright, National Chair, Advocacy Committee, American Diabetes Association. “If current trends continue, as many as one in three American adults will have diabetes by 2050. While the numbers are staggering, there is hope. The American Diabetes Association is committed to working with Congress and state legislators to ensure we have the programs and resources in place to save lives and Stop Diabetes.” 

The American Diabetes Association’s federal priorities for 2012 include:

• Federal Funding for Diabetes Research and Programs: Funding for programs at the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Diabetes Translation; reauthorization of Special Diabetes Programs; funding for the National Diabetes Prevention Program and additional innovative ways to increase the overall federal funding dedicated to diabetes research and prevention
• Health Reform Defense and Implementation: Defend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act against attempts to repeal or weaken the law and ensure it is implemented in ways that best meet the needs of people with diabetes and prediabetes
• Prevention: Focus on primary prevention of type 2 diabetes including nutrition and physical activity
• Health Disparities: Eliminating Disparities in Diabetes Prevention and Access to Care Act addressing racial and ethnic disparities
• Research and Surveillance: Stem Cell Research and Gestational Diabetes Act
• Health Entitlement Programs: Medicare and Medicaid
• Discrimination Issues
• Bills Related to Complications and Comorbidities of Diabetes
• National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act

The American Diabetes Association’s state priorities for 2012 include:

• Health Insurance: Diabetes Cost Reduction Acts, Implementation of the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid
• Discrimination Issues: Safe at School campaign to ensure students with diabetes are medically safe and have access to the same educational opportunities as their peers and opposition to laws and policies with blanket treatment of people with diabetes, including private driver’s licenses
• Prevention: Focus on primary prevention of type 2 diabetes including nutrition and physical activity
• Research and Surveillance: Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs and Stem Cell Research
• Diabetes Action Plans: Support bills requiring state agencies involved with diabetes to review and prioritize their efforts and develop action plans
• Bills Related to Complication of Diabetes
• Reducing Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption

 

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight to stop diabetes and its deadly consequences and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.