Policy Positions & Statements

As discussions begin about funding for FY27 (October 2026-September 2027), ADCES is supporting funding increases across the Department of Health and Human Services. In March, ADCES signed letters supporting funding for the CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity and for CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health program. In April, ADCES signed a letter opposing the President’s FY27 budget that would cut NIH funding by more than 12% and signed another letter instead requesting an 8.7% increase for NIH and NIDDK.

ADCES signed onto letters from the American Indian/Alaska Native Health Partners coalition to the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittee leadership requesting additional funding for the Indian Health Service in Fiscal Year 2026. The coalition is requesting higher funding for health professionals loan repayment and staff housing to help reduce the provider shortages within IHS and for funding to replace outdated medical and diagnostic equipment so that people using the IHS can receive better and more timely care.

In response to a proposed rule that would introduce competitive bidding for CGMs and pumps in Medicare, ADCES submitted a comment in opposition to the proposal and impressed upon the agency the need to improve the DSMT benefit in tandem with any changes to coverage for diabetes technologies. ADCES also contributed to comments from the Diabetes Technology Access Coalition and the Time in Range Coalition. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services finalized its proposal to institute competitive bidding for CGMs and insulin pumps. ADCES issued a statement opposing the final rule. 

ADCES signed onto letters from the American Indian/Alaska Native Health Partners coalition to the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittee leadership requesting additional funding for the Indian Health Service in Fiscal Year 2026. The coalition is requesting higher funding for health professionals loan repayment and staff housing to help reduce the provider shortages within IHS and for funding to replace outdated medical and diagnostic equipment so that people using the IHS can receive better and more timely care.

Ten organizations that support the DSMT Act joined ADCES on letters to House Energy & Commerce, House Ways & Means, and Senate Finance full committee and subcommittee leadership requesting they support the inclusion of the DSMT Act in any 2025 end-of-year healthcare package.

ADCES supported the reintroduction of the Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) Act of 2025 in the House. This legislation would expand the current Medicare MNT benefit beyond diabetes and kidney disease to include visits with a registered dietitian for prediabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and more.

In response to the calendar year 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule, ADCES submitted comments on a variety of topics including Medicare DPP, DSMT, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and Intensive Behavioral Therapy for obesity. ADCES also contributed to MPFS comments from the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance.

In response to the abrupt dismissal of the CDC director and related resignations from other top officials at the agency, ADCES joined dozens of other national health organizations in calling for stricter oversight of the agency by the Senate HELP and House Energy & Commerce committees.

Members of the Obesity Care Advocacy Network sent a letter to CMS Administrator Oz requesting the agency include coverage of FDA-approved obesity medications in any upcoming proposed rules.

As discussions heat up about funding for FY26 (October 2025-September 2026), ADCES is supporting the retention of funding lines throughout Health and Human Services that are critical to our nation’s health care and public health systems. In June, ADCES signed onto a letter to appropriations committee leaders supporting strong NIH funding. ADCES is also supporting CDC funding, including via letters to House and Senate appropriations subcommittee leadership in support of retaining the work of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity.

In response to a request for information put out by the administration on ways to improve access to care via deregulation within the Medicare program, ADCES submitted a long list of changes to the DSMT program’s reimbursement and accreditation scheme and the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program as well as a request related to home blood glucose monitoring.

Currently there are no recommendations from the US Preventive Services Task Force regarding screening for type 1 diabetes. Breakthrough T1D is leading an effort to change that by nominating the topic for consideration by the Task Force. ADCES is supporting this campaign through coalition membership and by signing onto the nomination request. 

ADCES signed onto letters from the American Indian/Alaska Native Health Partners coalition to the House and Senate Appropriations subcommittee leadership requesting additional funding for the Indian Health Service in Fiscal Year 2025. The coalition is requesting higher funding for health professionals loan repayment and staff housing to help reduce the provider shortages within IHS and for funding to replace outdated medical and diagnostic equipment and EHRs so that people using the IHS can receive better and more timely care.

In the President’s FY26 budget for the Department of Health and Human Services, the Trump administration proposed cutting 1/3 of the agency’s spending including the CDC’s entire Chronic Center which houses the Division of Diabetes Translation. ADCES joined over 500 organizations on a letter to Congressional appropriations leaders opposing these cuts.

The Senate reintroduced the CONNECT for Health Act of 2025 to make telehealth access in Medicare permanent. ADCES joined over 150 organizations in endorsing this legislation.

ADCES issued a statement on the decision to end NIH funding for the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) Outcomes Study that tracks long-term impacts from the original DPP trials.

At the start of 2025, Medicare Part B payment rates were cut by 2.83%. ADCES supported the reintroduction of the legislation that would prevent future such cuts by permanently indexing Part B payments to medical inflation.

As the 2025 Reconciliation process starts, ADCES has gone on record supporting the Prevention and Public Health Fund and its role in providing critical funding to every state and territory as well and cities and tribes to promote the health of residents and prevent epidemics.

As Congress negotiated the FY25 appropriations package, ADCES joined scores of organizations in supporting strong funding for the agency.

In response to the calendar year 2026 Medicare Part D, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid proposed rule, ADCES submitted comments supporting the agency’s proposal to begin covering obesity medications under Medicare Part D and Medicaid and signed a letter urging the Trump administration to finalize the rule. After the proposal was rejected in the final rule, ADCES signed a letter requesting the Administration continue to explore this issue.