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National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
Supports
Unrestricted Access
to Medicaid Patients
of Medicallly
Necessary Devices.
WHEREAS, the World
Health Organization
(WHO) estimates that
diabetes mellitus
(diabetes) affects
approximately 177
million people
worldwide, with
estimates rising to
370 million by 2030.
WHEREAS, according
to data from the
National Institute
for Diabetes,
Digestive, and
Kidney Diseases, the
prevalence of
diabetes is 50
percent higher among
Hispanics in the
United States than
non-Hispanic whites
over the age of 20.
WHEREAS, according
to the Centers for
Disease Control and
Prevention, one out
of every three
children born in the
year 2000 is
expected to develop
diabetes. Nearly one
out of every two
Hispanic and African
American children
born in the year
2000 is expected to
develop diabetes.
WHEREAS, the United
Nations recognizes
diabetes as "a
threat to families,
member states and
the entire world"
resolved November 14
as an official
United Nations Day
of observance for
Diabetes, making it
the first time the
UN has passed a
resolution for a
non-infectious
disease...
WHEREAS, according
to the American
Diabetes Association,
over 23 million
Americans (8 percent)
live with diabetes,
including 5.7
million who are
undiagnosed.
WHEREAS, according
to the U.S. Centers
for Disease Control
and Prevention,
“diabetes was the
seventh leading
cause of death
listed on U.S. death
certificates in
2006.”
WHEREAS, according
to the American
Diabetes Association,
approximately 57
million Americans
are pre-diabetic,
and are at
substantially higher
risk of developing
the disease.
WHEREAS, the ADA
estimates that the
total economic cost
of diabetes in 2007
was $174 billion in
the United States,
$70 billion, of
which was related to
complications.
WHEREAS, according
to Kaiser Family
Foundation
statistics, the
prevalence of
diabetes for the
Hispanic population
enrolled in Medicaid
(21.6%) is greater
than twice that of
the non-Hispanic
white population
(9.3%) and 60%
higher than the
total Medicaid
population with
diabetes overall
(13.5%).
WHEREAS, people with
diabetes must manage
their blood sugar to
within a range, or
face considerable
complications,
including
hypertension,
amputation,
blindness, heart
disease, and stroke.
WHEREAS, diabetes is
a disease that can
be effectively
managed through diet,
exercise, oral
medication, blood
glucose monitoring,
and, if necessary,
insulin therapy,
either through
multiple daily
injections or
insulin pump therapy.
WHEREAS, the
American Association
of Clinical
Endocrinologists
recognize self-monitoring
of blood glucose is
a critical resource
for the management
of diabetes.
WHEREAS, people with
diabetes must manage
their blood sugar
with sufficient
frequency to allow
them and their
health care
professionals to
make informed
decisions about
lifestyle choices,
nutrition, exercise,
and adjustments in
medication therapy.
WHEREAS, self-monitoring
blood glucose
devices provide
people with diabetes
the ability to
monitor their blood
sugar and adjust
their diabetes
treatment based on
the result.
WHEREAS, the Caucus
appreciates the need
for people with
diabetes to have
access to culturally
sensitive support to
ensure that devices
are used to maximize
patient care.
BE IT RESOLVED, by
the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators,
that the Caucus
acknowledges and
recognizes the need
for all people with
diabetes,
particularly those
communities that
face racial and
health disparities,
to have access to
known medically
accepted diabetes
care devices,
including self-monitoring
blood glucose
monitoring systems,
to ensure proper
management of their
disease.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT, Such
medical device
selection should be
based on the
clinical decision
making of the health
care provider and
their patient’s
specific needs.
BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED THAT,
States should not
limit access to the
types of diabetes
testing supplies (as
prescribed by the
physician) in any
manner, such as
through the use of
Preferred Drug Lists
or Preferred
Provider Programs.
This resolution
was adopted on
November 15, 2008,
at the National
Hispanic Caucus of
State Legislators
Executive Committee
Annual Meeting held
in Las Vegas,
Nevada.
Representative
Joseph Miró (DE),
NHCSL president
Sponsored By:
Representative Mara
Candelaria Reardon
(IN) |
