# Plain Language Summary: Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2021

This bill makes it easier for Medicare patients with diabetes to get training and education about managing their condition, and it removes financial barriers that might prevent people from using these services. Right now, Medicare covers diabetes self-management training—classes and one-on-one sessions where people learn how to monitor blood sugar, take medications properly, and make healthy lifestyle choices—but the coverage is limited and patients have to pay out-of-pocket costs. This bill expands that coverage significantly and eliminates patient cost-sharing, meaning Medicare will pay the full cost with no copayments or deductibles.

The main changes are straightforward: Medicare beneficiaries will get an initial 10 hours of diabetes training services that they can use whenever they need them, plus up to 2 additional hours every year after that. Currently, the amount of training available is unclear and varies. The bill also allows nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other qualified healthcare providers—not just doctors—to refer patients for this training, which should make it more accessible. Additionally, the bill removes the requirement that patients pay a deductible before Medicare covers these services, making them completely free to access.

The bill also directs Medicare to test virtual diabetes training programs delivered online, recognizing that many people can't easily travel to in-person classes. These virtual programs would be tested starting in 2023 to see if they help people better manage their diabetes, reduce hospitalizations, and lower overall healthcare costs. The goal is to figure out whether online training works as well as in-person classes, especially for people in rural or underserved areas who might have difficulty getting to physical locations. These changes take effect on January 1, 2023, giving Medicare time to implement the new rules.

Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2021

Shaheen, Jeanne

Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act of 2021 This bill expands Medicare coverage of diabetes outpatient self-management training. It also requires the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test a model in which such training is provided virtually.