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New Bipartisan Senate Bill Aims to Improve Access to Diabetes Technology & Education for Medicare Beneficiaries

Published in Government Relations on March 13, 2026

U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), Cochairs of the Senate Diabetes Caucus, have introduced the Diabetes Interventions Addressing Barriers to Enrollment, Technology, and Education Services (DIABETES) Act, S.4037.

A key provision of this legislation would protect insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) from being included in the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program for the next five years—a critical step to ensure Medicare beneficiaries maintain reliable access to the diabetes technologies they depend on.

In addition to addressing competitive bidding concerns, the DIABETES Act includes important provisions to strengthen diabetes education and ensure smoother transitions to Medicare for individuals already managing the disease.

Read Senator Shaheen and Collins’ press release here.

Key Provisions of the Bill

Five-year exemption from Competitive Bidding
Insulin pumps and CGMs would be excluded from the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program for five years, addressing longstanding concerns that bidding policies could disrupt access to essential and complex diabetes technologies.
Expanded access to diabetes self-management training (DSMT)
The bill builds on previous efforts to improve Medicare coverage for DSMT services delivered by certified diabetes educators—ensuring beneficiaries have access to hands-on support for managing their condition and using advanced technologies such as pumps and CGMs.
Improved continuity of care
The bill seeks to ensure that individuals transitioning into Medicare do not face interruptions in their diabetes treatment or device access during the switch from commercial insurance to Medicare.

Click here to view information on S.4037.

The VGM Government Relations team will be closely monitoring this bipartisan legislation, urging our champions in D.C. to lend their support and sharing updates as it moves through Congress.

Stay tuned as advocacy resources and next steps for DME suppliers will be available soon.

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