The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has proposed expanding a program to help people avoid diabetes.

Beneficiaries receive  lifestyle intervention, including boosting their  physical activity,  with the goal of preventing diabetes in prediabetic individuals..

People with higher than normal blood-sugar levels are enrolled and attend weekly training sessions on nutrition, exercise and other aspects of healthy living.

Providers are paid based on the number of sessions attended by patients and patients’ ability to achieve and maintain a minimum weight loss.

The CMS suggests expanding the program in 2018. The agency seeks public comment on whether to launch the effort nationally or in additional select markets.

The program, begun in 2013, has so far  enrolled beneficiaries in Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, New York, Ohio and Texas. It is the first such program of  the CMS Innovation Center,  created by the Affordable Care Act, to be seen as successful enough to be upgraded from a demonstration project and integrated into the full Medicare program. The ACA lets the CMS expand successful programs  without  Congress’s approval.

Providers are paid   based on the number of sessions attended by patients and patients’ ability to achieve and maintain a minimum weight loss.

For the full Modern Healthcare article on this, please hit this link.