AMA calls for health coverage for diabetes prevention programs

To help more people with prediabetes access the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) evidenced-based National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP), the American Medical Association (AMA) today adopted policy during its Annual Meeting to encourage private and public health plans to include the DPP as a covered benefit for their beneficiaries.

"More than 86 million Americans are currently living with prediabetes and nearly 90 percent of them are unaware they have it and are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes. We have a proven way to help these people make necessary lifestyle changes that can help them avoid developing the disease, but health coverage for these programs is limited and varies by location and insurer," said incoming AMA President Andrew W. Gurman, M.D. "We urge both private and public health care payors to offer the diabetes prevention program under their health plans to give more people access to these proven programs."