Where Are We Going in 2017?
Dec 29, 2016, 08:59 AM
T
he recent presidential election was one of the most interesting that I can recall. There were many opinions about who should win and why. Some of those thoughts were related to the candidates’ ideas about healthcare, as well as many other issues. There were also many shifts in congress and the senate that may impact upcoming legislation. For diabetes educators and people with diabetes, the future seems unclear.
There are many questions we may ask ourselves: How will coverage for diabetes management change over the next four years? What will come of insulin pricing? How will the newly released 2017 Physician Fee Schedule affect our practices? How will people with diabetes and diabetes educators learn about changes? What about diabetes prevention benefits? Is a diabetes prevention program something you are interested in starting? What is needed to prepare for such a program in 2017 that will let you offer reimbursable diabetes prevention education in 2018? How will you get that information?
At AADE, the advocacy staff will continue to watch carefully as legislative changes evolve at the federal and state levels. They will provide information about resources available for our members and people with diabetes. AADE primarily uses email and social media to keep members up to date on various issues relevant to diabetes educators. Keep an eye out for eFYI, AADE’s member newsletter.
We need to work together to interpret changes and implement programs and processes that meet the needs of diabetes educators, as well as people with diabetes.
Some news may come through volunteer leaders from your Coordinating Body at the state level. AADE staff also sends notifications pertinent to an individual state through an announcement to that state on
MY AADE NETWORK. The American Diabetes Association and other diabetes-focused groups also send updates, and the
diabetes online community (DOC) includes many individuals and groups that are aware of these types of changes and how they impact people with diabetes. In addition, AADE has staff that can help lead you in the right direction to create a
Diabetes Prevention Program.
It may seem that there are too many routes for messaging and it can be a bit overwhelming at times, but I believe this is a time we need to get information from many of the various groups and individuals involved as changes develop throughout 2017.
If you have specific questions about advocacy, the Diabetes Prevention Program, reimbursement, or other topics related to diabetes and diabetes education, contact AADE. Consider getting engaged through social media to connect with the DOC and sign up for communications from other diabetes organizations. We need to work together to interpret changes and implement programs and processes that meet the needs of diabetes educators, as well as people with diabetes.
I hope you have a cheerful New Year and a happy, healthy 2017!
About the Author
Karen Kemmis is a physical therapist and certified diabetes educator, and also holds certifications in Pilates for rehabilitation and exercise for aging adults. She is based out of SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY and splits her time between a Joslin Diabetes Center affiliate, an outpatient rehabilitation department, and a PT program where she is an adjunct professor.