New legislation could limit patient access to unbiased diabetes advice.
A bill before Congress called the Access to Quality Diabetes Education Act of 2015 (HR 1726, S 1345) and state efforts by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) will make it more difficult for Medicare patients with diabetes to get the help they need to overcome the disease.
The AADE—a private association—offers certification programs that diabetes educators can voluntarily pursue. These programs require an investment of thousands of dollars and a tremendous number of hours.