A groundbreaking study led by UCF highlights a major digital divide affecting diabetes care for millions of Medicare beneficiaries, potentially transforming health care practices for at-risk populations.
Approximately 38% of Medicare beneficiaries eligible for diabetes self-management training — potentially affecting around 3.9 million people — lack the necessary digital resources to fully benefit from virtual care programs, according to recent research led by the University of Central Florida.
The interdisciplinary study, spearheaded by Boon Peng Ng, a health economist and associate professor at the UCF’s College of Nursing, has brought to light an alarming disparity in diabetes care accessibility. Ng’s pioneering work earned him the 2024 Research Award from the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists annual conference in New Orleans.
“Although covered by Medicare, utilization of diabetes self-management education and support has been low, particularly in rural communities,” Ng said in a news release. “Telehealth delivery of the program has the potential to address this gap.”
Ng’s research revealed that sociodemographic factors such as race, income, education and geographical location significantly influence access to digital tools like computers, tablets and reliable internet connections.
“Disparities were observed based on race and ethnicity, income, education and where individuals lived,” Ng added. “This affects a beneficiary’s ability to receive the full service of the virtual program, impacting not only the success of the program but also the patient’s health outcomes.”
The stakes are high, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that 29% of Americans aged 65 and older have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, with an additional 48% in the same age group having prediabetes — altogether exceeding 27 million people.
Ng envisions health care providers taking proactive steps by screening patients for access to digital resources and supporting those in need by connecting them with low-cost digital tools or in-person assistance.
“Tailored efforts to reduce the digital divide to improve accessibility, affordability, adoption and technology literacy among Medicare beneficiaries will require community, public and private sector involvement,” added Ng.
What’s more, Ng’s research identifies similar digital disparities in the virtual Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP), which aims to avert the development of Type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals. A recent publication in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine indicates that approximately 30% of eligible Americans, or nearly 6 million, lack full digital access to the virtual MDPP.
Ng’s findings underscore the urgency for a combined effort from community organizations, public agencies and private sectors to bridge this digital divide and ensure equitable health care access for all Medicare beneficiaries. With the right strategies and support systems in place, millions of older Americans could enjoy enhanced diabetes care and better health outcomes.