Should a National Commission be Created to Evaluate Federal Diabetes Programs? (S. 920)

What is S. 920?

(Updated February 27, 2019)

This bill was enacted on November 2, 2017

This bill would establish a National Clinical Care Commission to evaluate and make recommendations about improvements to federal programs related to diabetes within the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). It would be required to submit an operating plan to HHS and Congress describing how it will report on specified aspects of diabetes treatment within 90 days of its first meeting. The commission would be terminated after it submits a final report, which would be required before the end of fiscal year 2021.

The commission would report on:

• HHS programs that focus on prevention;

• Current activities and gaps in federal efforts to support clinicians in providing integrated care;

• Improvement in federal education and awareness activities related to prevention and treatment;

• Methods for outreach and dissemination of education and awareness materials;

• Opportunities for consolidation of overlapping federal programs.

The commission would be composed of the heads of relevant federal agencies and one representative from each of the following categories:

• Physician specialties, such as clinical endocrinologists, that play a role in the prevention or treatment of diseases and complications related to diabetes.

• Primary care physicians.

• Non-physician healthcare professionals.

• Patient advocates.

• National experts, including public health experts.

• Healthcare providers with a patient population that consists of a high percentage of individuals who are enrolled in a state Medicaid program who aren’t covered under a health plan or health insurance coverage.

Argument in favor

A national commission of healthcare experts focused on improving diabetes prevention and treatment in federal programs would put the government on the right track in terms of focusing its research, prevention, and treatment efforts.

Argument opposed

It’s unlikely that a creating a national commission of healthcare experts to assess how federal programs handle diabetes treatment will be able to make a discernible impact on preventing and treating the disease.

Impact

People who have been or could eventually be diagnosed with diabetes; the healthcare industry; federal programs involved diabetes prevention and treatment; Congress; and the to-be established commission.

Cost of S. 920

The CBO estimates that enacting this bill would cost about $2 million over the 2017-2022.

Additional Info

In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced this bill to establish a national commission of healthcare experts to advance diabetes care and prevention:

“Millions of Americans and their families are affected by diabetes and experts predict that number will continue to grow. My legislation with Sen. Collins will ensure that the federal government is equipped to streamline and leverage investments in diabetes research, prevention, and treatment. Establishing a National Clinical Care Commission will set us on the right track to reverse the human and economic toll of this disease.”

Lead cosponsor Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) added:

"Diabetes affects people of every age, race, and nationality, and the disease’s human and economic toll is devastating.  If present trends continue, one in three adults will have diabetes in 2050. Our legislation would bring together public and private experts in diabetes research and treatments to develop a strategic plan for improving care for people with diabetes and help change the trajectory of this disease."

This legislation passed both the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Senate as a whole unanimously. It has the support of two bipartisan cosponsors.

Media:

• Sponsoring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) Press Release
  
• CBO Cost Estimate
  
• American Medical Association (In Favor - Previous Version)