The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and 42 National Medical Associations Urge Congress To Pass Key Legislation To Improve Diabetes Patient Care Before Adjournment
11-24-2014

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – (November 24, 2014) – The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) joined by organizations including the American Diabetes Association, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, American Academy of Family Physicians, YMCA of the USA and the American Medical Association* is accelerating its push for Congress to pass a bill that is critical to improving the quality of care delivered to America’s 29 million patients with diabetes and 86 million with prediabetes.

The National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1074/S. 539) calls for the creation of a public/private commission of diabetes stakeholders whose purpose is to ensure the coordination of diabetes care activities that are currently managed by three dozen federal departments and agencies and to recommend new approaches to improve diabetes care

The commission would operate with existing funds allocated to the Department of Health and Human Services at no additional cost to the government.

While this crucial bill has gained bipartisan supporters both within Congress and across the country, unless and until it is passed, we’re losing valuable time and money in our fight to improve the care provided to our citizens who have diabetes,” says Dr. R. Mack Harrell, AACE president. 

“We can no longer maintain the status quo as we approach this disease,” he added. “Our nation needs a serious response to the escalating diabetes epidemic and needs it now.”

Dr. Harrell points to new research published in the December 2014 issue of Diabetes Care, which reports the estimated total cost of diabetes to be $322 billion (2012 data), an increase of $104 billion, or 74 percent, in five years. The $322 billion is comprised of medical expenditures and reduced productivity for diagnosed diabetes ($244 billion), undiagnosed diabetes ($33 billion), prediabetes ($44 billion) and gestational diabetes mellitus ($1.3 billion).

In addition, Dr. Harrell notes, “Diabetes is a gateway illness that pre-disposes to many other debilitating and costly diseases. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, lower limb amputations (other than those caused by injury) and new cases of blindness among American adults. One out of every three Medicare dollars is spent on diabetes care. 

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About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. Visit our website at www.aace.com.

*ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING THE DIABETES CLINICAL CARE COMMISSION ACT 

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 

American Association of Diabetes Educators 

American Association of Kidney Patients 

American Clinical Laboratory Association 

American College of Cardiology 

American Diabetes Association 

American Optometric Association 

American Medical Association 

American Pediatric Medical Association 

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons 

American Society of Bariatric Physicians 

American Society of Nephrology 

Amgen 

Bayer Corporation 

Boehringer Ingelheim 

Dexcom, Inc. 

diatribe Foundation 

Eli Lilly and Company 

Endocrine Society 

GlaxoSmithKline 

Healthcare Leadership Council 

Health Monitor Network 

Johnson & Johnson 

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation 

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 

Medtronic 

Merck 

National Association of Chain Drug Stores 

National Community Pharmacists Association 

National Kidney Foundation 

Novo Nordisk 

Obesity Action Coalition 

Pediatric Endocrine Society 

Renal Physicians Association 

Results for Life 

Roche Diagnostics 

VIVUS, Inc. 

VSP Vision Care 

YMCA of the USA