Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training and Medical Nutrition Therapy Benefits: New Web Resources Offer Key Information
- Ann Albright, PhD, RD,
- Anne E. Daly, MS, RD, BC-ADM, CDE and
- Hope Warshaw, MMSc, RD, CDE
Advocacy efforts conducted within the diabetes community during the past few years have contributed to improvements in diabetes care, increased funding for diabetes research, and reduced discrimination towards people with diabetes. Two significant victories in diabetes care have been the passage of legislation that increases Medicare coverage for diabetes self-management training (DSMT) and supplies and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for diabetes and renal disease.
Diabetes Part B Medicare Benefits
In brief, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (effective since February 27, 2001) provides coverage for all people with diabetes, if eligible, to receive coverage for both diabetes supplies and DSMT. When Medicare beneficiaries with Part B coverage meet the specified eligibility criteria, the plan will cover the costs of up to 10 hours of initial training within a continuous 12-month period. The plan also covers 2 hours of follow-up training per year thereafter for those eligible.1
In 2000, as part of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA), Congress created The Medical Nutrition Therapy Benefit (effective since January 1, 2002) for Medicare Part B beneficiaries with diabetes and renal disease. The diabetes MNT benefit consists of a maximum of 3 hours of MNT services in the 12-month period beginning with the initial assessment (episode of care) and 2 hours per year in subsequent years. Additional hours of MNT services may be covered within …
