Health and Fitness : Advancing Diabetes Prevention Statewide Program

Prediabetes and Diabetes in Iowa Prediabetes affects nearly 1 in 3 adults in Iowa, a condition that significantly increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and related health complications. Without intervention, up to 30-50% of individuals with prediabetes will progress to type 2 diabetes within five years.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is a proven, evidence-based approach to preventing type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), participating in this yearlong lifestyle change program can lower the risk of developing the disease by 58%. The reduction in risk is even greater for adults over the age of 60, with risk reduced by up to 71%. These outcomes are driven by modest, sustainable lifestyle changes like healthier eating, regular physical activity, and ongoing coaching support.

Full+ Recognition and MDPP Supplier Status

The Iowa Community HUB (HUB), in partnership with the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (Iowa HHS), has achieved two critical milestones in the effort to prevent type 2 diabetes across the state: Full+ Recognition from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program and designation as a Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) supplier.

These achievements represent a significant advancement in building Iowa's Umbrella Hub Arrangement (UHA) - an innovative, scalable model designed to streamline access to evidence-based diabetes prevention programs, particularly in underserved communities. "We will begin working with a pilot site this summer to test our claims submission to Medicare," said Trina Radske-Suchan, President and CEO of the Iowa Community HUB. "These steps represent critical progress toward ensuring long-term sustainability and reimbursement for providers delivering high-quality diabetes prevention services."

What Is an Umbrella Hub Arrangement and Why Does It Matter?

A UHA functions as a centralized link to community-based organizations that deliver the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) with payers like Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers. In this model, the HUB serves as the Umbrella Hub Organization (UHO), handling essential administrative and billing functions on behalf of its CDC recognized subsidiary organizations across Iowa. Benefits of the UHA model include:

* Community-based organizations don't need to enroll with Medicare individually. The HUB submits claims as the single MDPP supplier reducing administrative burden on organizations.

* Programs can scale more efficiently. Community partners receive operational support such as billing, data reporting, maintaining compliance, and payer contracting allowing them to focus on program delivery.

* Sustainability is strengthened. By acting as a centralized administrative and billing entity, the UHA reduces complexity for payers by serving as a single point of contact and claims processor. This makes programs like the National DPP more financially viable and operationally efficient for public and private payers.

This progress is possible through the ongoing leadership and support of Iowa HHS, which has prioritized efforts to expand access to and participation in CDC-recognized National DPP organizations throughout the state. With support from a five-year CDC 2320 Component A grant, Iowa HHS has played a crucial role in supporting the development of the UHA. This includes connecting National DPP organizations with the HUB and supporting initiatives like the HUB Fresh Produce Program which delivers monthly produce boxes to participants to promote healthy lifestyle changes through better access to nutritious food.

"Expanding access to proven prevention programs like the National DPP is essential to improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of diabetes in Iowa," said Kelly Flater, Diabetes Prevention Coordinator with Iowa HHS. "We are proud to support the HUB's efforts to build a sustainable infrastructure that can reach more Iowans and improve community health statewide."

About the Iowa Community HUB

The HUB is a nonprofit, statewide community care hub that organizes and supports a network of community-based organizations delivering programs and resources to meet both health and daily living needs. It centralizes administrative functions and operational infrastructure to streamline referrals, strengthen data sharing, and position community organizations for sustainable funding opportunities. To learn more visit https://iacommunityhub.org/.

Learn More

For more information about the National DPP and Umbrella Hub Arrangements, visit https://coveragetoolkit.org.