Developing a Diabetes Prevention Program: Innovation in DSMES Programs, Part 5

Over the course of this 5-part series exploring innovations in diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) programs, we’ve highlighted educators and administrators who have created new services in the quest to remain relevant, profi table, and eff ective. From fi nding ways to provide more individualized care, to employing unique marketing tactics and patient recruitment strategies, to building patient-focused systems from the ground up, DSMES program providers have changed the way they do business to keep up with the ever-shifting diabetes landscape. In the past few years, we’ve seen a new (and heartening) development—existing DSMES programs are off ering the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), resulting in expanded roles for diabetes educators and contributing to long-term program sustainability. In 2016, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the DPP would be a covered benefi t for Medicare participants. This ruling went into eff ect in April of 2018, and now organizations that have obtained preliminary or full program recognition are eligible to apply for reimbursement. What does this mean for diabetes educators, and what does it look like in practice? In this last installment of the Innovation in DSMES series, we’ll examine the advantages of off ering a DPP through an existing diabetes education program and highlight an organization that is doing it successfully.