Advocacy Day, Congressional Briefing Focus on Diabetes Prevention and Treatment

07/24/2018 - The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics hosted an advocacy day with our partners in the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance on July 24 to encourage members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to support better access to nutrition services for diabetes prevention and treatment. Academy members visited congressional offices to inform policymakers about the important role registered dietitian nutritionists' play in diabetes prevention and treatment. The Academy asked members of Congress to support three bills:

• The Preventative Health Savings Act (H.R. 2953/S. 2164), which would allow policymakers to more accurately assess legislation that would prevent chronic disease
• The Preventing Diabetes in Medicare Act (H.R. 3124/S. 1299), which would allow Medicare coverage of medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitian nutritionists for patients with pre-diabetes
• The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training in Medicare Act (H.R. 5768), which would remove existing barriers to Diabetes Self-Management Training and improve utilization

On July 23, prior to the advocacy day, Academy members spoke at a congressional briefing on "Addressing Gaps in Prevention and Care for Medicare Beneficiaries with Prediabetes and Diabetes." The briefing was hosted by the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance.