The unpredictable and sky-rocketing cost of insulin has driven far too many Medicare patients to ration their medicine or even go without. Heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney failure, and nerve damage are just a few of the devastating complications that can result. Especially at a time when diabetics are particularly vulnerable to the Coronavirus, this situation is deeply concerning.

With a mild winter and warm spring past us, this year it’s hard to tell where one season ends and another begins. For those of us in CMS’ Division of Training, a sure sign that summer has arrived is a new round of National Medicare Train-the-Trainer Workshops!

Late spring means the annual SHIP conference is on its way—the 18th Annual SHIP Director’s Conference will be held June 4—7 in Atlanta.

On December 19, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule implementing the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, which was included as section 6002 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010.  This provision will provide important transparency in requiring reporting of payments or gifts to physicians, and physician ownership and investment interests.  During the 60 day comment period, CMS received over 300 comments from a wide range of stakeholders.

Did you know that 31% of Hispanics are uninsured, compared to 12% of non-Hispanic whites? Or that less than one-third of African American adults with diabetes receive the recommended services? Or that fewer than 40% of American Indian and Alaska Native adults over 50 have gotten screened for colorectal cancer?