Medicare expands diabetes technology access, removes cost barriers for beneficiaries

What it does

The DIABETES Act expands Medicare coverage and access to diabetes management technologies and education. It requires Medicare to separately reimburse for the algorithms and software that power automated insulin delivery systems, ensures continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps remain accessible outside competitive bidding programs, expands diabetes self-management training hours from 2 to 12 annually with no cost-sharing, and directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish new billing codes for insulin pump training and issue updated coverage rules by specific deadlines.

Why we flagged it

The bill's core function is to broaden Medicare reimbursement and access to diabetes management technologies and education services. While it touches regulatory and coding mechanisms, the primary intent is public health—expanding beneficiary access to clinically recommended treatments.

What the text implies

• Removal of competitive bidding restrictions on continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps may increase Medicare spending on these items in the short term, though the bill frames this as necessary to prevent access disruption and stifle innovation.
• The requirement that algorithms/software in automated insulin delivery systems be separately reimbursable creates new billing categories and administrative overhead for Medicare contractors and providers, with implementation timelines (January 1, 2027) that may strain readiness.
• Virtual diabetes training services pilot (Section 5) could shift diabetes education delivery toward telehealth, potentially benefiting rural/underserved beneficiaries but also raising questions about quality parity and digital access equity.
• The 180-day national coverage determination deadline for insulin pumps (Section 7) may accelerate coverage decisions that were previously under review, potentially expanding the covered population and associated costs.
• Expanded self-management training hours (10 initial + 2 annual) with 100% cost-sharing removal may increase utilization significantly, particularly among previously cost-deterred beneficiaries, with unclear long-term budget impact.

Who it affects

Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes gain expanded access to life-critical technologies (continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, automated delivery systems) and substantially more education hours (10 initial + 2 annual, vs. current limits), with zero cost-sharing for training services. The bill removes barriers (competitive bidding restrictions, lack of separate reimbursement for algorithms) that were limiting access and innovation. Broader public benefits from improved diabetes outcomes and

Who stands to gain

• Insulin pump manufacturers (e.g., Medtronic, Tandem Diabetes)
• Continuous glucose monitor manufacturers (e.g., Dexcom, Abbott)
• Diabetes education and training service providers
• Telehealth platforms offering virtual diabetes education
• Durable medical equipment suppliers

Named in the bill

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Secretary of Health and Human Services, Medicare Part B, Medicare Part D, Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Diabetes Association, American Association of Clinical Endocrinology, Medicare Administrative Contractors, Comptroller General of the US, BMY (Bristol Myers Squibb), GH (Guardant Health) — and 3 more

Where it stands

1 cosponsor: 1 Republicans.

• Mar 10, 2026 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in Senate”
• Mar 10, 2026 — Referred to Senate Committee on Finance · Congress.gov: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

11 lobbying clients named this bill on 12 disclosure filings across 1 quarter, Jun 2026 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,890,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 6 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 92% of bills with at least one filing.

Jeanne Shaheen, the sponsor, reported $-12,050 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Accendra Health Inc. — $500,000 on 2 filings
• Medline — $400,000 on 1 filing
• American Association for Homecare — $360,000 on 1 filing
• Insulet Corporation — $220,000 on 1 filing
• Accendra Health Inc. — $80,000 on 1 filing

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.