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Press Release - Fitzpatrick Introduces Bill to Change the Way We Fight Diabetes

Date: Sept. 29, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Senior Citizens Entitlements and the Safety Net Health Insurance


Fitzpatrick Introduces Bill to Change the Way We Fight Diabetes

Washington, Sep 29 - Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick introduced legislation late yesterday to better prevent, diagnose, and treat diabetes among seniors in America. Fitzpatrick's legislation, H.R. 6231, the "Catalyst to Better Diabetes Care Act" was introduced with Representative Ben Chandler, a Democrat from Kentucky.
"Diabetes is a silent epidemic in America," Fitzpatrick said. "Over 20 million Americans have diabetes, costing our country over $132 billion a year. One in three children born today will develop diabetes, especially minority children. We must do a better job nationally to screen, prevent and treat this debilitating disease."

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"Every month, 200,000 seniors go on Medicare. Of those, 40,000 have diabetes, and 13,000-20,000 don't even know it," Fitzpatrick said. "Promoting the currently available Medicare diabetes screening will ensure care gets to those who need it, preventing diabetes complications such as blindness, hospitalizations, and amputations - ultimately saving Medicare money."

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http://fitzpatrick.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=51078

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