Blog Post

The Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute is working with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to Help States Expand Medicaid Coverage of the National Diabetes Prevention Program

By: Laura Summers

Note: The opinions expressed are those of the author alone and do not reflect an institutional position of the Gardner Institute. We hope the opinions shared contribute to the marketplace of ideas and help people as they formulate their own INFORMED DECISIONS™.

On March 11th, 2020, the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Diabetes Translation and the University of Utah’s Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, hosted the first of a three-part virtual and interactive Learning Collaborative on Medicaid coverage for the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP).

More than 88 million U.S. adults—1 in 3—have prediabetes, putting them at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. The National DPP lifestyle change program is a year-long, evidence-based structured lifestyle change program developed by the CDC that can reduce participants’ risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 58%. The risk of early death is 60% higher for adults with diabetes.[1]

The March 11th Learning Collaborative convened over 80 participants from states that are actively implementing or planning for Medicaid coverage of the National DPP. These states include Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wyoming. The Learning Collaborative also included representatives from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Facilitated discussions led by NACDD and the Gardner Institute focused on how to implement the program in Medicaid as well as how best to engage stakeholders, including managed care organizations, in the design and development process. Conversations amongst these states and agencies will continue as part of at least two additional Learning Collaborative sessions (May and September 2020) and an in-person Medicaid Coverage Summit in early 2021.

Type 2 diabetes is a critical health issue facing our country and the Gardner Institute is pleased to support NACDD, the CDC, and states to research and develop Medicaid policies to advance coverage of the National DPP. For more information on the National DPP lifestyle change program and Medicaid coverage models see National Diabetes Prevention Program Coverage Toolkit.

Laura Summers is the senior health care analyst at the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute.

[1] CDC