DISTRICT VISIT INFORMATION
Meeting with your Representative and Senators in the district or state is a great way to engage
lawmakers on issues and to start establishing a relationship with them. Members of Congress
have fewer distractions when they are back home, which allows them to give more time and
attention to your visit and the issues you want to discuss. Local town hall meetings and
community forums hosted by Members of Congress also provide an important and unique
opportunity for you to interact with your elected officials.
Scheduling a district or local meeting with your Representative and Senators
AACE staff is happy to assist in scheduling a congressional meeting for you. Please contact
either Sara Milo, Director of Legislation & Governmental Affairs, at [email protected], or
Alysia Tampkin, Legislative Coordinator, at [email protected] to discuss setting up a visit.
You can find information about local town hall meetings hosted by your Members of Congress,
by accessing the websites of your Representative or Senators at www.house.gov or
www.senate.gov. Many Members’ websites also have portals that allow you to sign-up for
notices about upcoming local or teleconference town hall meetings, as well as newsletters and
press releases. You may also obtain information about local events by contacting the offices of
your Members of Congress. You can call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and
ask to be transferred to a specific congressional office and inquire about local events.
Tips for meetings with your Representative and Senators
Please leave the folder with the AACE fact sheets and related materials with your legislator
and/or their staff for their reference. Current talking points can be found in the District Meeting
Toolkit on the Resources for District Resources webpage located under Advocacy on
AACE.com. The following are some tips for congressional meetings that may be helpful:
1. Be Prepared –Learn about your Member of Congress by reading the biography on their
website and familiarize yourself with positions they have taken on health care issues.
Discuss how issues affect you and the patients you serve, e.g. having diabetic patients
referred to you with complications that were preventable. Members of Congress are
always looking for firsthand accounts of the impact that policies have on their constituents.
2. State the Math – When you meet with your Member of Congress, you are representing
even more constituents. Use these numbers to effectively make a point, by sharing
information like: “Ninety percent of my practice consists of Medicare beneficiaries.”
3. Be Respectful - Members of Congress want to hear your views so you do not need to
badger them or be overly aggressive to convey your message. If they cannot give you an
immediate response, be polite and express your appreciation for the opportunity to meet
and let him/her know that you look forward to receiving their response.
4. Strength in Numbers – Invite fellow AACE members in the area to join you at a meeting;
a group of people presenting a consistent message, even if there is only a single speaker,
speaks volumes about the amount of interest and support for the issues.
5. Staff Are Important - Members of Congress usually have staff join them for constituent
meetings. Be sure to get their business card and offer to provide them with additional
copies of any materials you brought to the meeting (AACE staff will be happy to forward
materials to a congressional staff member at your request.) Any material you bring will be
given to the legislative assistant in Washington who covers health-related issues.
6. Follow-up – Always follow-up with a phone call or email message after you have had a
meeting. Be sure to identify yourself and include the date, location of your meeting. This
correspondence allows you to restate the issues and questions you raised and formally
request a response if he/she was unable to answer during the meeting. Also, be sure to
include any information that may have been requested of you or, if you are unable to
provide this information, indicate that you are working on obtaining the items and provide
an estimated timeframe. Be sure to thank them again for your meeting.
Please contact the AACE office if you have any questions or need additional materials for
visits. AACE staff would also very much like to hear about any meetings you have with
your legislators. Thank you for your interest and involvement in AACE advocacy
activities!
AACE LEGISLATIVE FACT SHEET
SUPPORT THE NATIONAL DIABETES CLINICAL CARE COMMISSION ACT (H.R. 1192/S. 586)
The Problem for Our Patients: Diabetes, pre-diabetes and the largely preventable chronic diseases and
conditions resulting from diabetes are reducing quality of life, productivity, and life expectancy for millions of
Americans.
Diabetes is not a single disease but a gateway to multiple chronic diseases and conditions that are complications of
diabetes, including heart disease, strokes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, including dialysis, neuropathy, blindness
and lower limb amputations.
Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults
Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure
60% of all non-traumatic lower limb amputations in the U.S. occur in individuals with diabetes
60 70 % of individuals with diabetes have neuropathies or nerve disorders
Adults with diabetes have death rates twice as high as adults without the disease
th
Diabetes is the 7 leading cause of death in the United States
The Problem for Our Nation: Diabetes, pre-diabetes and the largely preventable chronic diseases and conditions
resulting from diabetes are bankrupting Medicare and will soon bankrupt the healthcare system.
29 million Americans have diabetes
Today 1 out of 9 adult Americans has diabetes; 1 out of 3 adult Americans will have diabetes by 2050, if the
current trends continue
86 million Americans have pre-diabetes
The U.S. spent $245 billion in 2012 on diagnosed diabetes, a 41% increase over 5 years
Today $1 out of every $3 Medicare dollars is spent on diabetes
Innovations from the federal research investment are not being effectively translated to the clinical setting.
Maintaining the status quo is not an option. The federal government needs to better leverage its investment and
try new approaches to diabetes to reverse the burden of this disease.
The Solution:
Enact the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act. This bill establishes a commission that will make
recommendations to Congress and the Secretary of HHS on improving diabetes care delivery and patient
outcomes. The National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission will:
Consist of private sector experts such as endocrinologists and other health care professionals, patient advocates,
and specialists in federal agencies most involved in clinical care.
Provide a formal mechanism for federal agencies to receive consistent and direct clinical expertise and a practical
perspective from professionals who work directly with patients.
Identify and evaluate current federal quality improvement activities and critical gaps in efforts to support clinicians
in providing integrated, high quality care.
Make recommendations regarding clinically-based activities supported by federal resources to maximize their
effectiveness in improving the quality of care provided to patients with diabetes and its complications.
Assist in the development, coordination and evaluation of clinical resources and tools produced by federal
agencies and in disseminating this information to health care professionals and patients in their communities.
Evaluate innovative care models and outcomes-based registry data for providing optimal cost-effective care.
Evaluate the HHS diabetes screening program, annual wellness visit and other prevention activities that may
reduce diabetes and its complications; identify problems related to the utilization of programs and data collection.
Forward recommendations to Congress and the Secretary of HHS within three years and then sunset.
Operate with existing funds at no additional cost to the government.
Request: Co-sponsor the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1192/S. 586) by contacting Sarah
nd
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Whiting Moxley with Rep. Pete Olson (R-22 -TX), Vonnie Hampel with Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-2 -IA), Priscilla
Hanley with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) or Alison MacDonald with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH).
March 2015
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










 

 







 


 













 
 















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
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
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
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
From: MacDonald, Alison (Shaheen)
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2015 3:36 PM
Cc: Hanley, Priscilla (Aging)
Subject: Bill Reintroduction: National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act
Greetings:
Thank you for your support last Congress of the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act. Senators Shaheen
and Collins plan to reintroduce the bill next week, in advance of the advocacy days for a number of the supporting
Diabetes groups. Please let me know by Tuesday (2/24) COB if we should include your boss as an original
cosponsor for reintroduction.
The bill text is attached. Other than an updated findings section and a few technical edits, the bill text remains the
same from the 113rd Congress. It has been endorsed by all the major Diabetes groups, including the Diabetes
Advocacy Alliance, JDRF, ADA, AMA, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, The Endocrine Society,
American Academy of Ophthalmologists and the American Association of Diabetes Educators. The Diabetes
Advocacy Alliance support letter from the 113rd here for background.
As you recall, the bill creates a commission comprised of diabetes experts, primary care physicians, health care
professionals and representatives from the federal agencies most involved in diabetes care in an effort to
streamline federal investments in the disease to improve the coordination and clinical care outcomes for people
with diabetes and pre-diabetes. The bill requires the commission to sunset after 3 years and would not come at an
additional cost.
Specifically, the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission will help improve the quality of diabetes care by:
Identifying gaps where new approaches are needed to improve diabetes care
Eliminating duplication and conflicting efforts and assisting in coordination across all federal agencies
Leveraging the significant federal investment in research by evaluating best practices and other resources
and tools for diabetes health care professionals and patients
Evaluating the utilization and data collection mechanisms of existing programs
Providing guidance on diabetes clinical care to maximize the effectiveness of our strong federal investment
in diabetes research
Please let me know if you have any questions, and we look forward to your continued support.
Alison
4-7093
--------------------------Alison MacDonald
Senior Policy Advisor
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen
520 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-2841
[email protected]
From: (Whiting) Moxley, Sarah
Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 6:49 PM
Cc: Hampel, Vonnie
Subject: Original Cosponsors of the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission
Dear Colleague:
Did you know that diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults and 60% of all nontraumatic lower limb amputations in the United States occur in individuals with diabetes.
Did you also know that people with diabetes are more likely than people without diabetes to also have other
chronic diseases and conditions that are complications of diabetes, including heart disease, strokes, high blood
pressure, kidney disease, including dialysis, and neuropathy.
Now that you know, consider the following:
29 million Americans have diabetes
86 million Americans have pre-diabetes
Today 1 out of 9 adult Americans has diabetes; 1 out of 3 adult Americans will have diabetes by 2050, if the
current trends continue
Of adults over 65, nearly 77% - or 8 out of 10 have either diabetes or pre-diabetes
The U.S. spent $245 billion in 2012 on diagnosed diabetes, a 41% increase over 5 years
Today $1 out of every $3 Medicare dollars is spent on diabetes
fee for service spending is on patients with diabetes
We have the real potential to bend the Medicare and Medicaid cost curve if we can begin to develop effective
strategies to reduce the onset of diabetes and the costly but preventable complications of the disease. Several
states have already recognized the toll of diabetes on their state budgets and have passed Diabetes Action Plans in
their state to address this epidemic. We believe there should be a similar response at the federal level and that is
why we are asking you to join us as an original co-sponsor of the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act.
This bill creates a commission for the purpose of improving the implementation and coordination of clinical care for
patients with pre-diabetes, diabetes and the chronic diseases and conditions that result from diabetes. The
Commission, representing a partnership between private sector experts and specialists in the Federal agencies
most active in clinical care, will issue recommendations to Congress and to the Secretary of HHS on new approaches
to improve patient care, such as getting information and resources to clinicians on best practices for delivering high
quality care, and effectively deploying new treatments and technologies, such as the artificial pancreas. The bill
requires no new money because the legislation specifies that the Commission meetings will be supported through
existing HHS funds.
We hope you will join us in doing something now about diabetes and the costly complications of the disease. For
more information and to become an original co-sponsor of the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act,
please contact Sarah Moxley ([email protected]) or Vonnie Hampel ([email protected]).
Very respectfully,
Pete Olson
Member of Congress
--
SarahMoxley(Whiting)
LegislativeDirector
CongressmanPeteOlson(TX22)
2133RayburnHOB|Washington,DC20515
(202)225-5951|(202)225-5241
[email protected]
David Loebsack
Member of Congress
April 20, 2015
The Honorable Susan Collins
U.S. Senate
413 Dirksen Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen
U.S. Senate
520 Hart Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Collins and Senator Shaheen,
The undersigned organizations, representing physicians, allied health professionals, patients, community
health organizations and industry, write to thank you for introducing S. 586, “The National Diabetes
Clinical Care Commission Act,” in the 114th Congress. As supporters of this legislation and its objectives,
we look forward to working with you to achieve passage by the Senate as soon as possible.
With your leadership regarding this very important piece of legislation, our nation puts forth a serious
response to the escalating diabetes epidemic and the chronic diseases that represent complications of
the disease. We know from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2014 National
Diabetes Statistics Report that the number of Americans with diabetes continues to grow unchecked.
We also know that maintaining the status quo of care for the 86 million Americans with pre-diabetes is
not an option.
S. 586 creates a commission for the purpose of improving the implementation and coordination of
clinical care for patients with pre-diabetes, diabetes and the chronic diseases and conditions that result
from diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, blindness and neuropathy. The
Commission, representing a partnership between private sector experts and specialists in the Federal
agencies most active in clinical care, will provide the mechanism to address this epidemic which touches
1 out of every 9 Americans over the age of 20 and threatens to bankrupt our healthcare system.
As you know, similar legislation introduced in the 113th Congress (S. 539) had 24 bi-partisan co-sponsors
and we are working hard to exceed this number in the 114th Congress and have this legislation enacted.
We appreciate your leadership on this critical healthcare issue and thank you on behalf of patients with
diabetes and pre-diabetes and the constituencies that our organizations represent.
Sincerely,
Abbott
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
American Association of Diabetes Educators
American Association of Kidney Patients
American Clinical Laboratory Association
American College of Cardiology
American Diabetes Association
American Medical Association
American Optometric Association
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society of Bariatric Physicians
American Society of Nephrology
AstraZeneca
Bayer Corporation
Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists
Boehringer Ingelheim
Dexcom, Inc.
Diabetes Hands Foundation
diaTribe Foundation
Eli Lilly and Company
Endocrine Society
GlaxoSmithKline
Healthcare Leadership Council
Health Monitor Network
Johnson & Johnson
JDRF
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Medtronic
Merck
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Kidney Foundation
Novo Nordisk
Obesity Action Coalition
Omada Health, Inc.
Pediatric Endocrine Society
Renal Physicians Association
Results for Life
Roche Diagnostics Diabetes Care
The Obesity Society
Vivus, Inc.
VSP Vision Care
YMCA of the USA
April 20, 2015
The Honorable Pete Olson
U.S. House of Representatives
2133 Rayburn House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable David Loebsack
U.S. House of Representatives
1527 Longworth House Office Bldg.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Representative Olson and Representative Loebsack,
The undersigned organizations, representing physicians, allied health professionals, patients, community
health organizations and industry, write to thank you for introducing H.R. 1192, “The National Diabetes
Clinical Care Commission Act,” in the 114th Congress. As supporters of this legislation and its objectives,
we look forward to working with you to achieve passage by the House as soon as possible.
With your leadership regarding this very important piece of legislation, our nation puts forth a serious
response to the escalating diabetes epidemic and the chronic diseases that represent complications of
the disease. We know from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2014 National
Diabetes Statistics Report that the number of Americans with diabetes continues to grow unchecked.
We also know that maintaining the status quo of care for the 86 million Americans with pre-diabetes is
not an option.
H.R. 1192 creates a commission for the purpose of improving the implementation and coordination of
clinical care for patients with pre-diabetes, diabetes and the chronic diseases and conditions that result
from diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, blindness and neuropathy. The
Commission, representing a partnership between private sector experts and specialists in the Federal
agencies most active in clinical care, will provide the mechanism to address this epidemic which touches
1 out of every 9 Americans over the age of 20 and threatens to bankrupt our healthcare system.
As you know, similar legislation introduced in the 113th Congress (H.R. 1074) had 183 bi-partisan cosponsors and we are working hard to exceed this number in the 114th Congress and have this legislation
enacted. We appreciate your leadership on this critical healthcare issue and thank you on behalf of
patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes and the constituencies that our organizations represent.
Sincerely,
Abbott
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
American Academy of Family Physicians
American Academy of Ophthalmology
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
American Association of Diabetes Educators
American Association of Kidney Patients
American Clinical Laboratory Association
American College of Cardiology
American Diabetes Association
American Medical Association
American Optometric Association
American Podiatric Medical Association
American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Society of Bariatric Physicians
American Society of Nephrology
AstraZeneca
Bayer Corporation
Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists
Boehringer Ingelheim
Dexcom, Inc.
Diabetes Hands Foundation
diaTribe Foundation
Eli Lilly and Company
Endocrine Society
GlaxoSmithKline
Healthcare Leadership Council
Health Monitor Network
Johnson & Johnson
JDRF
Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Medtronic
Merck
National Association of Chain Drug Stores
National Kidney Foundation
Novo Nordisk
Obesity Action Coalition
Omada Health, Inc.
Pediatric Endocrine Society
Renal Physicians Association
Results for Life
Roche Diagnostics Diabetes Care
The Obesity Society
Vivus, Inc.
VSP Vision Care
YMCA of the USA
For Member Use Only
National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1192/S. 586)
 Establishes a Commission of federal diabetes experts, health care professionals
and patient advocates to audit federal programs, determine what’s working and
what is not, and make recommendations to Congress and HHS Sect on new
approaches to improve care for patients with diabetes and chronic disease and
conditions that are complications (kidney disease, heart disease, blindness)
 Provides a mechanism for private sector experts to help the federal government
coordinate and implement clinical care activities in a fiscally responsible manner.
 Commission is funded with existing funds and is sunset after 3 years
)
 NOTE SUPPORT BY DIABETES GROUPS (Refer to Group Sign-On Letter in folder)
 183 co-sponsors of HR 1074; 24 co-sponsors of S. 539 in 113th Congress
 Provides Congress opportunity to do something now about this costly and
devastating epidemic and chronic disease complications resulting from diabetes
 Would be huge win for diabetes patients and the HC professionals who treat
them, and demonstrate Congress can work together to improve patient care
 Request Co-Sponsorship of Commission Bill (H.R. 1192 / S. 58
National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1192/S. 586)
Offices that are a co-sponsor of the legislation
 Thank Member/staff for their co-sponsorship
 Ask that Member talk to the Committee leadership to urge moving the bill:
House – Energy & Commerce
Chairman Fred Upton (R-6th-MI)
Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-6th-NJ)
Senate – Health Education Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee
Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN)
Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA)
 Ask how you can follow-up on this request. Suggest you will email or call
in 2 weeks (get business card)