Diabetes affects Native Americans at a higher rate than any other U.S. racial or ethnic group. In recent years, the disease has begun to afflict Native children, as well as adults.
In 1997, Congress established the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) to provide grant funding for diabetes prevention and treatment programs.
Effective Program with Bipartisan Support:
According to the Centers for Disease Control, American Indians and Alaska Natives have experienced a 54 percent decline in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) due to diabetes between 1996 and 2013. ESRD requires hemodialysis, which costs the Medicare program more than $87,000 per year for each patient. By cutting the need for hemodialysis due to ESRD in half among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, SDPI has created significant cost savings.
The significant changes in health outcomes and overall cost savings has proved that SDPI is both a successful and crucial program for Indian Country.
In the past, SDPI has received strong bipartisan support in both implementation and renewal.
The Special Diabetes Program for Indians has been operating on short-term extensions since September 30. Current authorization is set to expire March 31, 2018. Long-term SDPI renewal is included in the next Continuing Resolution, which Congress must pass to fund the government by February 8, 2018.
