A bipartisan bill that promises to improve public health and reduce healthcare costs in Delaware is heading to the governor’s desk.
Sponsored by retired medical professional State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck, Oak Orchard), House Bill 305 as amended provides a framework for a three-year observational study to reduce the incidence of Type 2 diabetes.
People with this condition do not respond properly to insulin, making it harder for glucose in the bloodstream to enter cells and be used for energy. This impaired process causes high blood sugar levels that can, over time, damage the heart, kidneys, eyes, nerves, and other organs.
The chronic disease is a massive drain on resources. According to one recent study, treating people diagnosed with diabetes accounts for 1 in 4 healthcare dollars spent in the U.S. People with the disease have medical expenditures 2.6 times higher than what would be expected without it. The cost of diabetes care in Delaware reportedly exceeds $1.1 billion annually.
The pilot program that will be set up under the bill will follow a representative group of diabetic patients as they undergo a new, intensive approach to reverse the progression of the disease. The program will incorporate technology, regular testing, professional management, and incentives to improve outcomes.
Federally funded through the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program, the initiative will carry no direct cost to Delaware taxpayers. Gov. Meyer supports the initiative and will sign the bill into law.
