Rep. Schrier’s Bills to Improve Patient Care Pass Through Health Subcommittee

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Health Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced two bills introduced by Representative Kim Schrier, M.D. The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act and H.R. 6369, which are focused on improving health care access and outcomes, received overwhelming, bipartisan support from the subcommittee.  

H.R. 6369 focuses on improving patient care by incentivizing health care providers to transition to alternative payment models. Alternative payment models (APMs) are reimbursement models wherein physicians are reimbursed based on their ability to provide high-quality, cost-effective care.  

“H.R. 6369 is an earnest effort to make our health care system more efficient and create an environment where providers are rewarded for transitioning to ways of providing health care that don’t compensate based on numbers of visits or procedures, but based on patient outcomes, " said Rep. Schrier, M.D. "This bill incentivizes coordinated and value-based care for our seniors by expanding access for Medicare patients. It has proven to save billions of dollars for taxpayers while improving care, and is exactly the type of pragmatic, bipartisan legislation that we can move through this Congress.” 

The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act will improve care for individuals with diabetes by increasing patient access to diabetes self-management training (DSMT). DSMT provides information and guidance on various issues related to diabetes management including diet, exercise, emergency training, insulin use, and more. Representative Schrier’s bill would: 

• Expand which providers can refer patients to diabetes self-management training.  
• Ensure that patients have at least 10 hours of this training available.  

"As someone who has managed my own Type-1 Diabetes for almost 40 years, I understand the importance of education in managing this disease. Without proper understanding of the roles of insulin, food, exercise, and illness on blood sugar, people with diabetes can quickly end up in the hospital," said Rep. Schrier. “We know that self-management training helps people with diabetes live healthy lives and stay out of the hospital, and I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to introduce this important bill and remove barriers to self-management training.” 

By providing diabetes patients with these self-management resources they will be empowered to take control of their own health and well-being, and we can help mitigate the negative impact this disease has on them and their families,” said Congressman Gus Bilirakis. 

“The Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES) thanks Congresswoman Schrier (D-WA-08), the original co-sponsors, and the members of the subcommittee for recognizing the importance of access to diabetes self-management training for Medicare beneficiaries,” said ADCES President Lucille Hughes, DNP, CDCES, BC-ADM. “The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management-Training Act of 2023 will help address the biggest barriers to care we see in practice.” 

Having now passed the Health Subcommittee, these two bills will move on to a vote before the full Energy and Commerce Committee.  

The Expanding Access to Diabetes Self-Management Training Act is a priority of the Diabetes Advocacy Alliance, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Diabetes Association, Black Women’s Health Imperative, Diabetes Leadership Council, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition, Endocrine Society, National Kidney Foundation, Omada Health, Inc., and more.