The YMCA of the USA will provide its diabetes-prevention program to 10,000 Medicare beneficiaries in 17 communities as part of a demonstration project aimed at lowering the incidence of Type 2 diabetes, reducing medical costs and testing the effectiveness of the Y's program.
The project is expected to save Medicare $4.2 million within three years and a total of $53 million over six years, according to a news release announcing the program, which is funded by a Health Care Innovation Award from the CMS' Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.
“Older Americans face the highest risk for Type 2 diabetes, and the Y's initiative for Medicare beneficiaries is a key step to making sure they have access to effective prevention programs,” said Ann Albright, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Diabetes Translation, in the news release.