This two day event took place May 5-6 in Rosemont, IL this year and the theme was "A Local Approach with a Maximum Impact." The focus of the meeting this year was to provide its members with the knowledge and tools that we will need to influence policy makers and improve the field of diabetes education. Some of the issue and topics that were addressed at this forum were:
1. Training on how to keep struggling programs open
2. Learning about healthcare reform on the state and federal levels and its impact on diabetes education
3. Learning about diabetes-related legislation and policy on the state level and how to engage
4. Hearing other AADE members' stories on their advocacy victories and how they did it
5. Hearing from long-time lobbyists and legislators on best practices for influencing policy makers
6. Discovering how you can become a more effective advocate and encourage others to do the same
As the Advocacy/Grassroots chair for AZAADE I would like to see our local members do more concerning diabetes awareness in our state. I would like to form an advocacy team on issues regarding reimbursement for diabetes education and the protection of our roles as diabetes educators. I believe we can also do more with raising awareness of the impact that diabetes has by ensuring that state legislators and other state policy makers are thinking strategically and taking steps toward reducing the prevalence of diabetes in our state. As of 2017, 19 states have passed DAPs (Diabetes Action Plan) and another 9 are considering passing their own DAP.
The fundamental intent of the DAP legislation is to require state officials from the Department of Health that works with medicaid and the state agency responsible for purchasing state employee health insurance benefits, to develop a report every other year for the state legislature that reflects the financial and health impact of diabetes. Arizona is not one of the 19 states currently with a DAP. I believe having a DAP would help improve access to care and credible diabetes self management education, raise public awareness, as well as make medications more affordable which we know our patients so desperately need right now.
I can say that this Forum definitely motivated me to want to do more for our patients and profession not just on a state level but a federal level as well. The comments I heard from other attendees echoed the same. I encourage all of you who have never attended a Public Policy Forum to do so. I will send out a survey next month for those who are interested in developing an advocacy group and to find out what issues you feel are most critical in our state and would like to see addressed.
On behalf of our local board I want to thank each and every one of you for what you do on a daily basis to improve the lives of those with diabetes as well as their family members and support team
Sincerely
Katrina Dryer, FNP-BC, CDE
Advocacy/Grassroots Chair