The Medicare Diabetes Screening Project in Georgia was started in July 2007 with a kick-off in conjunction with the Medicare Prevention and Wellness Bus Tour in Columbus. Since the launch, the Georgia pilot project has continued to expand and has initiated activities in additional cities across the state, including Augusta, Macon, Savannah, Gainesville and Atlanta. The project has engaged a variety of local networks and individuals including fire stations, community leaders, churches, African-American sororities and fraternities, and senior-serving organizations to spread the word about diabetes screening.

The Georgia efforts have been successful in raising awareness of Medicare’s diabetes screening benefits. Recent Medicare claims data show that more seniors in Georgia have been screened for diabetes since the project’s launch. Although this is a step in the right direction, there is still work to be done!