HHS: Expanding diabetes prevention model would reduce net Medicare spending

Expanding the Diabetes Prevention Program model to Medicare beneficiaries with prediabetes would reduce net Medicare spending and improve quality of care without limiting benefits, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell announced today. Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in the model lost about 5% of their body weight, reducing their risk for diabetes, and saved Medicare an estimated $2,650 each over a 15-month period, HHS said. An estimated one-third of U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition that increases their risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is considering how to incorporate the program in Medicare and said more information will be included in the calendar year 2017 proposed rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, expected this summer. For more on the model program, see an analysis by the CMS Office of the Actuary and the latest evaluation report.