Support the Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention Act of 2003
Remote screening for diabetic retinopathy is a new way to help many diabetic patients who never obtain the recommended annual dilated retinal screening examinations. This approach uses evidence-based guidelines to identify people at risk for vision loss by placing digital retinal cameras at community health and primary care clinics where patients are screened during their regular healthcare visits. The high-resolution images are transmitted to a centralized reading facility where they are analyzed. Recommendations for follow-up care are then made to ensure that patients with sight-threatening conditions are sent to eye care specialists before their vision is damaged permanently. This approach reduces disparities, improves access and improves outcomes for many patients with this chronic illness.

While such programs have been in limited operation, widespread application of this technology has been constrained because there is currently no reasonable method of reimbursement. Medicare and Medicaid have thus far failed to provide for this proven methodology, and thus diabetic retinopathy continues to be the leading cause of blindness among working-age Americans. With the skyrocketing number of newly-diagnosed diabetics, an unprecedented healthcare crisis will result unless we act now.

Recently, Congressman Jim Cooper of the 5th District of Tennessee introduced a bill to the United States House of Representatives that will correct this oversight. The Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention Act of 2003 (H.R. 3458) will be taken up after the first of the year.

Many experts agree that this approach is scientifically valid and economically sustainable. It is truly the only practical way to reduce this looming public health catastrophe. The old ways of healthcare delivery for this problem do not work for today’s patients, and the rapid increase of new diabetics dooms future generations to great misery unless we act deliberately and with great resolve to address this problem today.

I hope you review this information and share it with your colleagues, neighbors and friends.
Congressman Jim Cooper
  
 

Then please contact your legislators and ask that they support H.R. 3458 (click to see the Bill (.pdf) using Adobe Acrobat)

The following organizations support this legislation:

American Diabetes Association

Rural Health Association of Tennessee

Ophthalmic Photographers’ Society

The Nashville REACH 2010 Project at Meharry Medical College

National Association of Community Health Centers

National Council of La Raza

National Hispanic Medical Association

National Rural Health Association

 

Thank you.

     
 

We have provided a sample text that can be used when you contact your Representative via email. The text is available as a text file ( click here for the: .txt) , or simply copy the text provided below. If you prefer to send your letter via U.S. Mail we a have provided the text as a MS Word document ( click here for the: .doc).

Use http://www.house.gov/ to find your Representative and the addresses you need.

 

  
     
 

SAMPLE TEXT, feel free to copy and paste this into your letter or email:

Dear

I am writing to express my support of the recently introduced Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention Act of 2003 (H.R. 3458).

This legislation supports the use of telemedicine-based screening to identify people at risk for vision loss from diabetic eye disease. It is a proven method of screening that is already in widespread use in other countries.

Diabetic retinopathy affects retinal blood vessels and increases with the duration of diabetes. The CDC currently states that 75 people in the U.S. go blind from diabetic retinopathy every single day. The skyrocketing number of newly-diagnosed diabetics will lead to an unprecedented public health catastrophe in a short time unless we act now to combat this problem.

Telemedicine-based screening programs identify people at risk through the use of digital retinal cameras placed in community health centers, primary care clinics and mobile vans. The cameras produce high resolution digital images which are graded at a centralized facility. Specialists interpret the images and recommend follow-up care to ensure that patients with sight-threatening conditions are sent to eye doctors. There are proven methods of treating retinopathy, but we must identify patients who need treatment before their eyes suffer permanent damage. Like many other conditions, earlier identification leads to improved outcomes. These programs reduce healthcare disparities, increase access and provide equity across diverse populations and locations.

While a few telemedicine-based eye screening programs have been in limited operation in the U.S., widespread application of this technology has been constrained chiefly due to the lack of reasonable reimbursement. Since Medicare and Medicaid have failed to provide for this proven method, diabetic retinopathy continues to be the leading cause of blindness among working-age Americans.

Recently, Congressman Jim Cooper of the 5th District of Tennessee introduced a bill to the House of Representatives that will correct this oversight. The Diabetic Retinopathy Prevention Act of 2003 (H.R. 3458) was introduced on November 6, 2003 and will be taken up after the first of the year.

I am absolutely convinced that this approach is scientifically valid, economically sustainable and represents the only practical way to reduce this looming public health problem. The old ways of healthcare delivery cannot reach enough people, and the rapid increase of newly-diagnosed diabetics dooms future generations to great misery—unless we act TODAY!

I hope you share my concerns about this matter and will support this legislation. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Sincerely yours,