PREVENT DIABETES Act

Key Points

• This bill allows Medicare to pay for diabetes prevention programs that are held entirely online or through video calls. Right now, many of these programs require people to show up in person, but this change would let seniors participate from the comfort of their own homes.
• The policy is designed to help the millions of Americans on Medicare who are at risk for type 2 diabetes. It specifically helps people who live in rural areas or have physical limitations that make it hard to travel to a doctor's office or a community center for weekly classes.
• Under these new rules, healthcare providers could help patients living in any state, not just their own. This makes it easier for large online health companies to offer their services to everyone across the country without worrying about state-line paperwork.
• The plan also removes the limit on how many times a person can enroll in the program. This means if someone tries the program but struggles to stick with it, they can sign up again later to try and get their health back on track.
• These changes would be in effect from the start of 2026 through the end of 2029. The goal is to see if virtual classes are as effective as in-person ones at preventing a very expensive and dangerous disease.

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