Study Reveals Costs of Treating Diabetes
Updated 2007- The National Changing Diabetes Program (NCDP), based on sampling data from 2005, concluded that one out of every eight U.S. federal dollars goes toward treating diabetes. The study found that federal health authorities spent in fiscal year 2005 over $79 billion treating people with diabetes and diabetes complications. The findings of the study were announced in Washington with the Congressional Diabetes Caucus.
This sum represents over 12% of $645 billion federal health care dollars that year. The study is the first of its kind to examine diabetes treatment and prevention. The study also revealed that the government concerned itself across the board with spending on diabetes, but most spending was not coordinated interdepartmentally. The study also indentified a clear need for a director of disease prevention and promotion of diabetes programs.
The Mathematica Policy Group supported the study, which evaluated government involvement in diabetes programs along several levels. The policy group called for more fine-tuned government action on the front against diabetes.