(Minneapolis, MN) — U-S Senator Al Franken announced today (WED) that the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) is eligible for expansion as a Medicare benefit to more patients–including high-risk seniors. Franken says it’s a “big deal” because “it’s doing what we in Minnesota have done pretty well, which is using prevention and using coordinated care to improve people’s outcomes, while saving money.” Franken co-authored a bill that increased funding for DPP as part of the Affordable Care Act and the pilot program proved to be an effective way to treat and prevent Type 2 diabetes. The disease affects 30 million Americans and kills two people every five minutes.