DSMES General Information

DSMES - Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support

Explore innovative ways for reimbursement and patient education models by accrediting your pharmacy in Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES).

DSMES Overview

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) is a program designed for individuals with diabetes to gain the knowledge and skills to make behavior changes and better control their diabetes and related conditions. This evidence-based practice provides tools to help patients with their needs and goals to improve their health outcomes.

Specifically, DSMES is the process by which coaches facilitate knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for self-care. By empowering patients through behavior and lifestyle change, the sessions are intended to support self-management on a continual and consistent manner. The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES) is one of the two national accrediting organizations that offers support to health care professionals who provide DSMES services and want to receive reimbursement for diabetes self management.

What is ADCES?

The Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists is a multi-disciplinary professional membership organization dedicated to improving diabetes care through innovative education, management and support. The mission of ADCES is to empower diabetes educators to expand the horizons of innovative education, management and support.

What are the Advantages to ADCES?

As the only organization dedicated solely to diabetes education, ADCES has the expertise and resources required to support DSMT programs. Diabetes Education Accreditation Program (DEAP) includes program flexibility, multi-site accreditation, a simple fee structure and a stop-start online application with the ability to upload your supporting documents.

DEAP not only supports sites in traditional settings, but has significantly expanded program options for diabetes care professionals by offering improved support for community-based settings such as physician offices, pharmacies, churches, and community centers.

Pathways to DSMES Accreditation

Accrediting a pharmacy through ADCES or ADA allows for alternative reimbursement models and expansion of clinical services in community care. Medicare began reimbursing for DSMES in 1997. Accredited DSMES programs are eligible for Medicare reimbursement and the pharmacy may bill CMS for DSME if the entity (pharmacy) is a Part B provider (pharmacists may not bill as an individual provider).

The core components are the same for both organizations, with both requiring their programs to meet set standards. Renewal is on a regular cycle, and pricing is very similar. Both programs do audits to ensure standards are being met. A Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) plan must be developed and submitted for both programs in the initial and renewal applications.

Health care professionals should look for educational programs that are effective in educational strategies. Standards are used in the field for recognition and accreditation of programs, but there are diabetes self management education programs that are non-accredited and providers that are non-recognized.

DSMES Accreditation Pathway Resources

PPA has chosen the ADCES pathway for our accreditation support and assistance. We have many resources to help you get accredited and maintain accreditation.

National Standards for DSMES

Initial Application Instructions

Applying for Accreditation
Please note: Medicare or ADCES can audit you even if you are not billing for your services. Set a goal to see at least 10 patients per year, whether you are billing or not in order to have data to maintain accreditation.

Initial Application and Audit Toolkit

Additional DSMES Resources

Toolkits

PPA DSMES Toolkit

ADCES Diabetes Education Accreditation Program

ADA Education Recognition Program

CDC DSMES Toolkit

Beyond the Sig DSMES PPA Podcast

DSMES Newsletter