Stakeholder analysis: Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program awareness and implementation

The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) provides unprecedented coverage of a behavior change program for older adult Medicare beneficiaries, but uptake has been extremely limited; only 1.5 sites deliver the program per 100,000 beneficiaries nationwide. Inadequate reach and utilization of the MDPP threaten its long-term success; thus, the purpose of this project was to determine facilitators and barriers to MDPP implementation and use in western Pennsylvania.

We conducted a qualitative stakeholder analysis project with suppliers of the MDPP and health care providers.

Using an implementation science framework, we conducted individual interviews with 5 program suppliers and 3 health care providers (N = 8) to determine their perspectives on positive aspects of the program and reasons for MDPP unavailability and lack of use. Data were analyzed using Thorne and colleagues' approach of interpretive description.

Three main themes emerged: (1) facilitators and attributes of the MDPP, (2) barriers to MDPP implementation, and (3) suggestions for improvement. Facilitators of the program included technical support and webinars from Medicare to assist with the application process. Barriers such as financial reimbursement constraints and a lack of a systematic referral process were noted. Stakeholders suggested refinements to participant eligibility and performance-based payments, a seamless method of flagging and referring patients through the electronic health record, and ongoing virtual program delivery options.

Findings from this project can be used to improve implementation of the MDPP in western Pennsylvania, support Medicare policy refinement, and inform implementation research to promote broader adoption of the MDPP across the United States.