Congress to Adjourn by Making First-Ever Reduction to Effective CDC
Diabetes Prevention Program; Research at NIH Also Cut
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The fiscal year 2006
appropriations bill Congress is expected to pass today contains cuts to
critical diabetes prevention efforts at the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), according to the
American Diabetes Association (ADA). The CDC's Division of Diabetes
Translation -- which works with local communities to help those suffering from
diabetes better control the disease and those at risk for diabetes prevent or
delay its onset -- is funded at $300,000 less than the previous fiscal year's
budget level. This is the first time the Division of Diabetes Translation has
been cut, and it comes on the heels of a newly released CDC study that found
that diabetes has risen by over 14 percent in the last two years. The CDC
estimates that 20.8 million Americans -- 7 percent of the U.S. population --
now have diabetes, up from 18.2 million in 2003. As part of the FY06 Labor,
Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Act, Congress also
slashed funding for the National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney
Diseases (NIDDK), an NIH research division. NIDDK will be funded at $9
million less than last year.
The budget cuts cap a year in which the federal commitment to diabetes
prevention lagged behind the increase in diabetes prevalence. This week,
Congress also is set to make substantive changes to Medicaid, which will make
it much more difficult for beneficiaries with diabetes to access the critical
care services, supplies, and medication they need to control the disease.
Additionally, Congress will adjourn without passing stem cell research
legislation that would expand and accelerate the research that holds much
promise for a cure and better prevention treatment options for diabetes. The
Association is a strong supporter of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act
(S.471/H.R. 810), which earlier this year passed the U.S. House of
Representatives with broad bipartisan support and currently awaits a vote in
the U.S. Senate. The Association had hoped the Senate would send the bill to
the President this year, but now urges the Senate to consider it early next
year.
"The 20.8 million Americans with diabetes -- and the millions more who
care for them and are touched by the disease -- deserve better from our
government," said Robert A. Rizza, MD, President of the American Diabetes
Association. "Instead of increasing our investment in prevention research
efforts, Congress has taken the extraordinary step of cutting CDC and NIH
funding. Instead of making it easier for people with diabetes to access life-
saving health coverage, Congress is set to approve changes to Medicaid that
will do significant harm to beneficiaries with diabetes. Instead of finally
passing stem cell legislation that will accelerate the search for better
treatments and a cure for diabetes, Congress has opted for inaction."
The CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) runs state-based Diabetes
Prevention and Control Programs, which take medical research -- such as that
sponsored by NIH -- and translates it into practices and programs that can be
used in local communities. These programs help those currently suffering from
diabetes better control and manage the disease and also help those at risk for
diabetes prevent or delay its onset. Unfortunately, current funding levels
only allow the DDT to provide full support -- implementation of awareness and
education programs -- in 28 states. Because of the decreased funding, the DDT
will only be able to conduct surveillance programs in 22 states. While the
conference report containing funding for CDC included a minimal .05 percent
increase over FY05 for the DDT -- because of a one percent across the board
cut in non-defense discretionary spending included in the Defense
Appropriations Act -- the program will receive $63.1 million in FY06, down
from $63.4 million in FY05.
The ADA has also been a strong advocate for efforts that help to ensure
that Americans with diabetes have access to health care that enables them to
properly manage and control the disease. Having access to preventive care,
more intensive diabetes management, and diabetes tools helps prevent the
serious complications associated with diabetes, while simultaneously saving
the U.S. health care system billions of dollars in long-term costs.
Consequently, the Association has fought cuts and changes to Medicaid that
would leave patients without the tools and supplies they need. The changes to
Medicaid contained in the budget reconciliation will dramatically weaken the
health coverage of Medicaid beneficiaries.
"It is increasingly vital that we match the rise in diabetes prevalence
with a commitment to diabetes research and prevention," said Dr. Rizza. "This
year, the federal response not only failed to keep up with the growing
diabetes epidemic, but in fact took a few critical steps back. The American
Diabetes Association urges Congress and the Administration to resolve in 2006
to act forcefully to improve the federal investment in diabetes research,
prevention, and care."
Diabetes is one of this nation's most prevalent, debilitating, deadly and
costly diseases. The CDC recently estimated that 20.8 million Americans live
with diabetes, meaning that there are approximately 50,115 people living with
diabetes in every Congressional District. One-third of diabetes instances are
undiagnosed. The cost of diabetes in America in 2002 was at least $132
billion.
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health
organization supporting diabetes research, information and advocacy. The
Association's advocacy efforts include helping to combat discrimination
against people with diabetes; advocating for the increase of federal diabetes
research and programs; and improved access to, and quality of, healthcare for
people with diabetes. The Association's mission is to prevent and cure
diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. Founded
in 1940, the Association provides service to hundreds of communities across
the country. For more information please call the American Diabetes
Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit
http://www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in
English and Spanish.
SOURCE American Diabetes Association
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Related links:
http://www.diabetes.org
CONTACT:
Zach Goldberg of American Diabetes
Association, +1-703-549-1500, ext. 2622, or
zgoldberg@diabetes.org
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