A provision tucked into a $1.2 trillion federal budget package signed this week will significantly expand access to virtual diabetes prevention services for Medicare beneficiaries. Congress reauthorized the PREVENT DIABETES Act, extending through 2029 the ability for digital health companies to participate in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) as virtual suppliers.
Under the program, eligible Medicare Part B beneficiaries at risk for Type 2 diabetes can receive a free, year-long prevention program consisting of 22 lifestyle education sessions, focused on weight management, physical activity, and behavior change. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, virtual providers such as Omada Health, 9am Health, and Amwell have been allowed to deliver MDPP services under temporary authority, similar to other Medicare telehealth flexibilities. The new legislation provides longer-term certainty and expands participation options.
Medical and advocacy organizations have long argued that restricting MDPP to in-person delivery limited access, especially in areas without local providers. While more than 500,000 people participate annually in the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program through employers or health plans, fewer than 5,000 Medicare beneficiaries had enrolled in MDPP by the end of 2022. The PREVENT DIABETES Act addresses this gap by recognizing virtual-only providers as eligible MDPP suppliers, enabling synchronous virtual classes and on-demand recorded sessions.
The law also introduces additional flexibility, allowing Medicare beneficiaries to participate in the program more than once. CMS has reinforced these changes through recent rulemaking, removing requirements for virtual providers to maintain in-person capabilities, allowing remote weight reporting, and clarifying that two-way texting and messaging can qualify as one-on-one coaching. In parallel, CMS included virtual-only MDPP providers in the CY2026 Physician Fee Schedule, ensuring reimbursement for digital diabetes prevention services.
Patient choice remains intact: beneficiaries may still opt for in-person MDPP services through certified providers. Digital health leaders say the changes mark a critical step toward expanding preventive care access and reducing the long-term burden of Type 2 diabetes among older adults.
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