Advocacy

State Advocacy

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Each state has diverse diabetes communities with unique needs, and we advocate for policy change in every state across the country to improve health care access, coverage, and affordability; support healthy diets; and address health barriers to ensure the needs of these communities are met.

We know the diabetes epidemic hits close to home regardless of which state you live in. Will you join us and become a Diabetes Advocate today to support the diabetes communities where you work, live, play, and pray?

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State Alerts

Want to know what diabetes advocacy issues are happening where you live? Check out our Engagement Platform to see if your state has active alerts and what you can do to help!

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State Officials Need to Hear Your Stories

The American Diabetes Association is collecting stories to help our elected officials understand how important it is to make insulin more affordable. If you or someone you know has been negatively impacted by the cost of insulin, please share your story—it is a powerful and necessary tool to make insulin affordability a reality for everyone!

Share Your Story

Fact sheets

Learn more about the diabetes burden in your state, including the prevalence, the cost of diabetes care, and the actions being taken to improve lives. 

Get the Facts

State Advocacy Wins

The American Diabetes Association leads or collaborates with others to advance policy change to further our mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Recent state achievements include:

  • March 2023: A law was passed requiring pharmacy benefit managers to pass 100% of rebates to the consumer at the point of sale to lower their medication costs.
  • April 2023: A bill was signed that moves continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) in the Medicaid program to a pharmacy benefit to improve access.
  • April 2023: A bill was signed that provides free breakfast and lunch to students who qualify for reduced school meals to help reduce food insecurity.

June 2023: A bill was signed that provides person-centered obesity treatment, including anti-obesity medication and nutritional counseling, for Medicaid and HUSKY B beneficiaries.

  • May 2023: A bill was signed that expands the definition of telehealth to allows audio-only visits.
  • June 2023: A bill was signed which expands eligibility for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to all Floridians on Medicaid with diabetes who are insulin dependent. The law adds adult coverage for the benefit, reduces coverage requirements, and directed that CGMs be made available through pharmacies to improve access.

April 2023: A bill was signed that allows for undesignated glucagon to be prescribed in the school setting to provide a backup supply.

May 2023: Legislation was signed into law to pass on at least 85% of rebates to the customer at the point of sale to lower medication costs.

  • June 2023: The state budget includes $950k for diabetes research and programs.
  • June 2023: The state budget provides coverage to state employees for injectable medicines to improve glucose or weight loss for use by adults diagnosed or previously diagnosed with prediabetes, gestational diabetes, or obesity.
  • August 2023: A bill was signed to reduce cost-sharing on insulin from $100 to $35 for a 30-day supply for those with state-regulated commercial health insurance. The new law, effective July 1, 2025, also creates an insulin discount program allowing Illinoisans, particularly those with no health insurance or on a high deductible health plan, to purchase insulin at a discounted price.

June 2023: Medicaid’s revised continuous glucose monitor (CGM) policy goes into effect—expanding coverage to those with type 2 and gestational diabetes—eliminating the requirements for three or more insulin administrations per day, multiple daily blood glucose testing, and frequent adjustment to insulin. It has also eliminated prior authorization for those beneficiaries with type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes.

May 2023: A bill was signed into law capping copayments for medications needed to treat chronic diseases, including diabetes. The bill caps copayments for prescription medication at $25 per prescription and $50 cumulative for supplies (both for 30-day supplies). 

March 2023: A bill was signed that extends Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum.

  • May 2023: A bill was signed into law related to state-regulated health insurance and caps copayments for insulin at $35 per prescription per 30-day supply.
  • May 2023: A new law updates state-regulated health insurance coverage for diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) services, aligning the coverage with current standards of care. Under the new law, people will have access to up to 20 visits of DSMES services in the first year and 12 follow-up visits in subsequent years.
  • January 2023: The finalized Medicaid continuous glucose monitor (CGM) policy includes coverage for all types of diabetes when medical necessity criteria is met. The policy also makes CGMs available through both the pharmacy and medical benefit, further improving access.
  • June 2023: A bill was signed into law to cap cost-sharing for insulin at $35 per 30-day supply for state employees and those in state-regulated health plans.
  • June 2023: A bill was signed to require the submission of a state plan amendment to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to at least six months (with the authority to submit a SPA for 12 months).

July 2023: New Jersey has become the 25th state (as well as the District of Columbia) to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $35 per 30-day supply for state-regulated health plans (and includes public employee health plans as well).

March 2023: North Carolina became the 40th state to expand Medicaid. Once implemented, the expansion is expected to provide insurance for over 600,000 North Carolinians. 

April 2023: North Dakota passed legislation to cap copayments for the public employee health plan. The law created a $25 insulin copay cap and $25 cumulative copayment cap for supplies (both for 30-day supplies). 

July 2023: The Ohio budget contains a provision whereby all students who qualify for reduced-priced meals will be eligible for free meals (both breakfast and lunch).

  • April 2023: A bill was signed improving consumer protections related to step therapy protocols used by health plans.
  • May 2023: A bill was signed that allows for undesignated glucagon to be prescribed in the school setting to help ensure backup glucagon is available.

April 2023: Passage of the state budget will result in TennCare (Medicaid) beginning to offer coverage for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) (both through the pharmacy and DME benefit) effective July 1, 2023, improving ease of access.

March 2023: A law was passed that allows pharmacists to refill prescriptions for insulin in an emergency without updated authorization from the current prescriber. 

May 2023: A law was passed that removes the January 1, 2024 expiration date for the state’s $35 insulin copay cap. 

  • March 2023: The budget includes $97,125 in funding for diabetes education and prevention programs.
  • March 2023: A bill was signed into law related to state-regulated health insurance plans. The law will reduce cost-sharing on insulin from $100 to $35 for a 30-day supply and set a similar, collective cost-sharing limit of $100 on continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), blood glucose test strips, glucometers, lancets, lancing devices, and insulin syringes.

February 2023: A bill was signed into law to add Medicaid coverage for podiatry services.

More advocacy resources

We're fighting for your rights under the law.

Grassroots Advocacy

Get everything you need to become a Diabetes Advocate and make an impact. Learn how to sign up as an advocate, take action, see our priorities, access resources, and more.

Federal Advocacy

The ADA fights for people with diabetes to thrive by advocating for their rights, increased funding for diabetes programs and research, and so much more. 

Know Your Rights

As a person living with diabetes, you have certain rights at school, at work, in public places, and more. Learn more about your rights and how we can help if you're being mistreated.