Suffolk Reporter

Suffolk County issued the following announcement on Nov. 13.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services has received “full recognition” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for its Diabetes Prevention Program. The recognition is a designation reserved for programs that have effectively delivered a quality, evidence-based program that meets all of the standards for CDC recognition.

The Diabetes Prevention Program is a national partnership of organizations working to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. The program makes it easier for people at risk for type 2 diabetes to participate in evidence-based lifestyle change programs to reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes. Suffolk County has been a partner in the program since 2016, offering yearlong support to small groups of eligible participants.

CDC-recognized organizations achieving preliminary or full recognition status can enroll in Medicare as Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) suppliers. Enrollment in Medicare as an MDPP supplier is required before an organization can bill Medicare for in-person DPP services provided to eligible beneficiaries.

The standards to achieve full recognition were strict and required extensive documentation of physical activity as well as demonstration of an average weight loss of 5% across all evaluated participants in the yearlong cohort.

“It is not easy to change behavior, but we are making inroads and we hope to ultimately see improvement in health outcomes as we train more lifestyle coaches in our communities,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of Health Services. “To accomplish full recognition from the CDC is testimony to our dedicated staff who have brought this program to life in Suffolk County.”

In a letter to the health department’s office of health education dated October 23, 2020, Dr. Ann Albright, Director of Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program, wrote, “The sustained success of your lifestyle change program makes an invaluable contribution to the prevention of type 2 diabetes, both in your community and nationally. You and your colleagues should be extremely proud of this accomplishment.”

Suffolk County’s designation is noted on the national registry website.

Original source can be found here.