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Mission: To improve the health, function, and quality of life of Fulton and DeKalb county residents living with, at risk for, or affected by, diabetes.
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Medicare to Cover Diabetes Prevention Program
Last month, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia M. Burwell announced that Medicare will offer the Diabetes Prevention Program to at-risk Medicare beneficiaries. Until now, Medicare covered the cost of diabetes screenings. No services were offered, though, for those who had Prediabetes, a condition of higher than normal blood sugar that often progresses to Type 2 Diabetes.
The CDC has reported that while over 50% of adults age 65 and older have Prediabetes, fewer than one in ten are aware that they have the condition. The CDC-recognized Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is a lifestyle change program that is offered both in person and online. It is estimated that the DPP will reduce federal spending for health services by $1.3 billion in 10 years. Learn more.
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You are invited to DCAC's Quarterly Meeting:
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Tuesday, April 26th - 11 am to 12:30 pm
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Mechanicsville Branch Library
1st Floor Meeting Room
400 Formwalt St. SW
Atlanta 30312
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A networking session will follow the meeting until 1 pm.
Our speaker will be Fulton County School Nurse, Trish Vacarella, RN, CDE. Ms. Vacarella will describe the medical care that has been provided to students with diabetes in Fulton County Schools since 2013. Newcomers are especially welcome!
Free diabetes prevention and self-management education materials will be available. Those in attendance can also pick up handouts on the topics of finding health insurance, locating resources for the uninsured, and transitioning to Medicare.
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Saving Money with Discount Drug Cards
Prescription Drug Cards have been available for use by people with or without health insurance for nearly 10 years. In the past, DCAC did not recommend their use for several reasons. For one thing, consumers did not know in advance the price of the drug until they presented the card with a prescription at their local pharmacy.
Times have changed! There are at least two Discount Drug Card programs - NeedyMeds and GoodRx - that allow consumers to enter a zip code, the name of the medication, and see the actual cost of the drug at various pharmacies using the Card that day. Discounts apply to brand-name and generic drugs -- even for pet medications.
- The NeedyMeds Drug Discount Card can be downloaded here. Use the Drug Pricing Calculator to find the lowest price for a medication at a pharmacy near you.
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- The GoodRx program has a smartphone app that will display the drug cost and map out locations of pharmacies. Learn more.
Medicare beneficiaries: See Medicare.gov or call DCAC to discuss ways to lower the cost of prescription drugs at 740-807-1054.
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Marketplace Update: Changes in Household Income
Uninsured adults in Georgia who have had an increase in their household income may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) to buy health insurance on HealthCare.gov. To learn more, see Getting 2016 Health Insurance Coverage.
Note: Adults who are receiving financial assistance to buy health insurance through the Marketplace must report any increase in their income on HealthCare.gov to avoid the need to pay back any advance premium tax credit when filing taxes at the end of the year.
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DCAC Helps Uninsured Adults Find Health Care
DCAC counsels uninsured Metro Atlanta residents on where to find health care and services. Please share the following resources with those who need more information:
- DCAC's handout: The Health Care Safety Net in Metro Atlanta. Includes info on health services available to women ages 18-44 through the Planning for Healthy Babies Program.
- The ATL Regional Health Guide: Resources for the Uninsured. Download the online Guide here in English or Spanish.
Note: Print copies are no longer available to order.
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DCAC's Quarterly Meeting Schedule - 2016:
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Tuesday, July 26th,
Tuesday, October 25th
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11 am - 1 pm
Mechanicsville Branch Library
400 Formwalt St. SW
Atlanta, GA 30312
Georgia Diabetes Coalition's Quarterly Meeting: Wed., April 27th
For more info, go to www.gdctoday.org
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Ongoing Partner Programs
Everyone with Diabetes Counts Class for Medicare Beneficiaries: Free 6-week class is led by trained Peer Educators. Learn more. To find or host a class, call Jessica Knopf at 1-888-313-9355.
Morehouse Community Health Worker Train-the-Trainer Class: Participants in the three-day training will gain knowledge and skills
to support adults at risk for, or living with, Type 2 Diabetes and/or
heart disease. Download iADAPT 2.0 Flyer.
Group Diabetes Self-Management Education Classes: Southside Medical Center, 1046 Ridge Ave. SW, Atlanta 30315. Free and open to public on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month. Contact Myrtle Wilder, FNP, CDE, at 404-688-1350.
Big Rewards, Small Steps, YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program:
Get tools for healthy living and cut risk for Type 2 Diabetes in half.
Program Director is Linda Vaughn: 404-267-5345. Learn more.
Support Group hosted by the Ruby A. Neeson Diabetes Awareness
Foundation: 770-299-1470. Find other Metro ATL Groups here.
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Stay Connected:
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To receive DCAC email Announcements and/or the Monthly Newsletter, sign up here.
To view previous DCAC Newsletters, see the Newsletter Archive.
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Support the work of DCAC !
Tax-deductible donations to support the work of DCAC may be
made in the form of a check to the Georgia Diabetes Coalition.
For more information, call 740-807-1054.
Donations by credit card directly to DCAC are not tax-deductible,
but are gratefully accepted through the link to
DCAC's PayPal account below.
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For community resources and support to prevent diabetes and
its complications; for information on affordable health care, resources for the uninsured, or the transition to Medicare,
call us at 740-807-1054 or visit www.dcacfulton.org.
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The Diabetes Community Action Coalition, Inc. is
the local chapter of the Georgia Diabetes Coalition.
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