Twelve team members from clinics and hospitals in Kansas—along with two KHC Quality Improvement Advisors—recently completed training to be certified Lifestyle Coaches under the National Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP).
The training was sponsored by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment and provided online by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES).
A third of American adults—or 88 million people—have prediabetes. People with prediabetes are at higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.
DPP programs are among those approved by CMS to help patients diagnosed with prediabetes work to prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. Certified Lifestyle Coaches meet regularly with patients over the course of a year to lose at least 5% of their body weight through healthier eating and increased physical activity.
Clinics that start a DPP program could bill for these services to Medicare and private payors, upon receiving accreditation from the CDC and Medicare, which KHC Quality Improvement Advisors can assist with.
Further, clinics that start a DPP program will be well positioned to achieve CMS goals for Chronic Disease Prevention as part of the Kansas Health Quality Innovation Network (or HQIN), said KHC Quality Improvement Advisor Mandy Johnson, who is one of two KHC team members certified as a DPP Lifestyle Coach.
"Diabetes is a costly disease that poses additional health risks and higher health care costs. By preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes we can improve the health outcomes for the patient as well as reduce healthcare costs."
"The Diabetes Prevention Program is a proven, evidence-based approach. And patients with more than one chronic condition—such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol—with prediabetes could see additional health benefits. Healthy eating, weight loss and increased physical activity can have positive effects, such as improving blood pressure or lowering cholesterol, in addition to preventing or delaying type 2 diabetes."
The newly certified DPP Lifestyle Coaches are:
- Augusta Family Practice, Augusta (three team members).
- Clara Barton Hospital and Clinics, Hoisington (one team member).
- Holy Family Medical, Wichita (three team members).
- KU Internal Medicine Clinic, Wichita (five team members).
- Coffey Health System, Burlington (one team member).
Kansas providers interested in setting up and staffing a DPP program may contact KHC with questions or to arrange assistance.
"Since we've completed the training, too, we know what challenges providers may face in setting up a DPP program, and we are well positioned to be able to help them," said KHC Quality Improvement Advisor Rebecca Thurman, a KHC team member certified as a DPP Lifestyle Coach.
“We can also talk with providers from firsthand experience about the time involved in training, getting a DPP up and running, and getting it certified by the CDC and Medicare,” she said. “A certified DPP program means full reimbursement for providers and evidence-based care for patients to help them prevent a costly, detrimental chronic disease.”
Contact your KHC Quality Improvement Advisor directly or—if you’re not sure if your organization has one—contact KHC Quality Improvement Advisor and Program Champion at (785) 235-0763 or