Georgia Medicare covers three diabetes education and nutrition benefits under Part B: Diabetes Self-Management Training, Medical Nutrition Therapy, and the Diabetes Prevention Program. Two of the three cost you nothing, and the third carries only the standard 20 percent Part B coinsurance after your deductible.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Continuous glucose monitors. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-glucose-monitors Which ones you can use depends on your diagnosis: Self-Management Training and Nutrition Therapy are for people who already have diabetes, while the Prevention Program is only for people with prediabetes who have never been diagnosed with diabetes.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 410.79 — Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model. ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-410.79 This guide explains who qualifies, how many hours Medicare pays for, what you actually owe, and where to find an accredited program in Georgia.
What Georgia Medicare Covers for Diabetes Education and Nutrition
Georgia Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training is one of three distinct Medicare Part B benefits for beneficiaries with diabetes or prediabetes, each with its own rules, hours, and cost. Together they cover learning to manage diabetes day to day, one-on-one nutrition counseling, and a structured program to keep prediabetes from becoming diabetes.
- Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) teaches the self-care skills of living with diabetes: blood glucose monitoring, medication use, meal planning, foot care, and managing sick days.
- Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) is individualized nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian for people with diabetes or kidney disease.
- The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) is a year-long behavior-change program for people with prediabetes who have not yet developed diabetes.
DSMT and MNT are separate benefits, and a newly diagnosed beneficiary can use both in the same year. Prediabetes patients who do not yet have a diabetes diagnosis use MDPP instead.
Georgia Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT): Hours, Providers, and Cost
DSMT is Medicare's education benefit for people who already have diabetes (Type 1, Type 2, or gestational). A physician or qualified non-physician practitioner managing your diabetes must order the training and certify that you need it.
Hours. Medicare covers up to 10 hours of initial training, structured as 1 hour of individual training plus 9 hours of group training, and the initial training must be furnished within a continuous 12-month period. After that you may qualify for up to 2 hours of follow-up training in each calendar year following the year you complete the initial training.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Diabetes self-management training. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diabetes-self-management-training Hours that fall outside that continuous 12-month window do not count as initial training, so it pays to schedule the classes early. Note the follow-up rule runs on the calendar year, not on a rolling 12 months, and it does not start until the year after you finish.
Who can provide it. The program must be accredited by an organization CMS approves for that purpose, and the rules live at 42 CFR 410.140 through 410.146. Two of those accrediting organizations are the American Diabetes Association Education Recognition Program and the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (ADCES, formerly the American Association of Diabetes Educators); both publish directories of the programs they accredit, so ask a program which accreditation it holds rather than assuming. The regulation also sets the group training size at 2 to 20 individuals, who need not all be Medicare beneficiaries.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Diabetes self-management training. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diabetes-self-management-training
Cost. DSMT carries 20 percent Part B coinsurance after the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Diabetes self-management training. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diabetes-self-management-training,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles A Medigap Plan G or N covers that 20 percent coinsurance, but be careful about the deductible: Plan G pays everything Plan F pays except the annual Part B deductible, and Plan N does not cover it either. Only Plans C and F cover the Part B deductible, and those two are closed to anyone first eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020. So a Plan G holder who has not yet met the $283 deductible this year still pays it.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits
Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT): Who Qualifies and What It Costs
MNT is one-on-one nutrition counseling furnished by a registered dietitian or qualified nutrition professional. It is narrower than DSMT: it covers only three groups (diabetes, non-dialysis chronic kidney disease, or a kidney transplant within the last 36 months), requires a referral from your treating doctor naming the qualifying diagnosis, and covers 3 hours in your first calendar year and up to 2 hours in each calendar year after that. The first-year hours cannot be carried over into the next calendar year, and additional hours are covered when your treating physician determines a change in your condition, diagnosis, or treatment regimen requires a change in MNT and orders them during that episode of care. You pay $0 when you qualify, with the Part B deductible waived.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medical nutrition therapy services - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services The full eligibility detail, hour rules, and how to get referred are in our Georgia Medicare Medical Nutrition Therapy guide.
The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP)
The MDPP is a structured lifestyle-change program modeled on the CDC's National Diabetes Prevention Program, aimed at Medicare beneficiaries with prediabetes before a diabetes diagnosis. The core services period runs 12 months: up to 16 core sessions offered at least a week apart during months 1 through 6, then up to 6 core maintenance sessions offered at least a month apart during months 7 through 12.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 410.79 — Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model. ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-410.79 You pay nothing if you qualify, with no coinsurance and no Part B deductible.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Continuous glucose monitors. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-glucose-monitors Qualification under 42 CFR 410.79 runs on a body mass index of at least 25 (at least 23 if you self-identify as Asian) and a qualifying blood-test result within the prior 12 months.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 410.79 — Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model. ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-410.79 For January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029 the historical once-per-lifetime limit is removed, so eligible beneficiaries may enroll more than once; that removal is written as a time-limited window, so confirm it still applies if you are reading this near the end of 2029.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Continuous glucose monitors. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-glucose-monitors The full eligibility numbers, session structure, and how to find a Georgia supplier are in our Georgia Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program guide.
What These Benefits Cost in Georgia
Cost is where these three benefits differ most, and where families most often get bad information.
- DSMT: 20 percent Part B coinsurance after the annual Part B deductible ($283 in 2026). Medigap Plans G and N cover that coinsurance, but neither covers the Part B deductible itself.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Diabetes self-management training. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diabetes-self-management-training,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits
- MNT: $0 when you qualify. Medicare pays 100 percent of the payment amount, so there is no coinsurance, and MNT is one of the enumerated services the Part B deductible does not apply to.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medical nutrition therapy services - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services
- MDPP: $0 when you qualify and the provider accepts assignment. No coinsurance and no deductible.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Continuous glucose monitors. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-glucose-monitors
Medicare Advantage plans must cover DSMT, MNT, and MDPP too, though cost-sharing can differ from Original Medicare; check your plan's own coverage documents. Beneficiaries who also have Medicaid may have any remaining Medicare cost-sharing covered as well.
The Law Behind DSMT, MNT, and MDPP
Each benefit rests on its own statute and regulation, which is worth knowing if you ever need to argue a denied claim.
- DSMT was added by Section 4105 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 as Section 1861(qq) of the Social Security Act, effective January 1, 1998. The conditions of coverage are at 42 CFR 410.140 through 410.146.
- MNT was added by Section 105 of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 as Section 1861(vv), effective January 1, 2002. The conditions of coverage are at 42 CFR 410.130 through 410.134, and CMS National Coverage Determination 180.1 governs the benefit.
- MDPP grew out of a CMS Innovation Center demonstration authorized by Section 4108 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010. CMS expanded it into a covered benefit effective April 1, 2018, with coverage rules at 42 CFR 410.79.
Telehealth for Diabetes Education in Georgia
The general Medicare telehealth flexibilities that let beneficiaries receive care from home anywhere in the country are temporary. They are currently extended through December 31, 2027. Without a further extension, most non-behavioral telehealth reverts to the older rules, which require the patient to be in a rural area at an approved originating site such as a clinic rather than at home.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Telehealth Insurance Coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth That end date matters more in Georgia than the national average would suggest, because it is rural counties that lose the at-home option first.
Whether a particular DSMT or MNT session can be billed as telehealth depends on Medicare's telehealth services list and on how your program is set up, so ask the program directly before you schedule. For MDPP, Section 6214 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 brought virtual Diabetes Prevention Program suppliers into the MDPP expanded model for the period running January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2029.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Continuous glucose monitors. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-glucose-monitors
Georgia Medicare Diabetes Self-Management Training and Nutrition Programs
Diabetes education programs in Georgia are concentrated in the larger hospital systems, which leaves parts of rural south and middle Georgia farther from an in-person option. Hospital systems that run diabetes education and nutrition programs include:
- Emory Healthcare Diabetes Education Program (metro Atlanta)
- Piedmont Diabetes Resource Centers at Atlanta, Fayette, Henry, Newnan, Columbus, Macon, and Athens
- Wellstar Diabetes Education at Kennestone, North Fulton, Cobb, Spalding Regional, and West Georgia
- Northeast Georgia Health System at Gainesville and Braselton
- Memorial Health Diabetes Education Center (Savannah)
- AU Health / Wellstar MCG (Augusta)
- Phoebe Diabetes Education Center (Albany)
- Grady Diabetes Clinic (Atlanta)
- Atrium Health Navicent (Macon) and Tanner Diabetes Education (Carrollton)
Program names and locations change, and being a large hospital system does not by itself make a program accredited for Medicare DSMT, so confirm accreditation with the program or through the American Diabetes Association and ADCES directories before you enroll. Registered dietitians in private practice, endocrinology groups, and community health centers also provide MNT and bill Medicare through Palmetto GBA, Georgia's Medicare contractor. For MDPP, in-person suppliers include Georgia YMCAs; use Medicare's MDPP supplier directory to find the suppliers serving your area, including any that deliver the program virtually.
Worked Examples
The situations below are illustrative and use hypothetical beneficiaries to show how the cost rules play out.
Margaret, 78, Atlanta, newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes. Her primary care doctor orders 10 hours of DSMT at an accredited program. She attends 1 hour of individual training and 9 hours of group classes over several weeks. DSMT carries 20 percent coinsurance after the $283 Part B deductible, and Margaret has Medigap Plan G. Plan G covers the 20 percent coinsurance but not the Part B deductible, so what she owes depends on the deductible: if she has already met her $283 deductible earlier in the year, she pays nothing, and if she has not, she pays toward that deductible first.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Diabetes self-management training. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diabetes-self-management-training,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2026). 2026 Medicare Parts A & B Premiums and Deductibles. cms.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/2026-medicare-parts-b-premiums-deductibles,Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits
Robert, 82, Savannah, poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes. His endocrinologist refers him for MNT at the Memorial Health Diabetes Education Center, where he sees a registered dietitian for 3 hours in his first year. Robert has no Medigap, but because MNT costs $0 with the deductible waived, he owes nothing.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medical nutrition therapy services - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services This is the point families most often get wrong: MNT does not carry the 20 percent coinsurance that DSMT does.
Linda, 75, Macon, prediabetes. Her wellness visit shows an HbA1c in the prediabetes range and a body mass index of 28, and she has never been diagnosed with diabetes. Her doctor refers her to a CMS-recognized MDPP supplier. She pays $0 for the full 12-month program, with no deductible.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Continuous glucose monitors. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/continuous-glucose-monitors
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming MNT costs the same as DSMT. DSMT has 20 percent coinsurance; MNT is $0 with the deductible waived. Do not let a provider or plan tell you otherwise.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medical nutrition therapy services - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services
- Assuming Medigap Plan G leaves you with nothing to pay for DSMT. Plan G covers the coinsurance but not the annual Part B deductible. Only Plans C and F cover that deductible, and they are closed to anyone first eligible for Medicare on or after January 1, 2020.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Compare Medigap Plan Benefits. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 22, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/health-drug-plans/medigap/basics/compare-plan-benefits
- Skipping the order or referral. DSMT needs a physician order; MNT needs a physician referral naming the diagnosis. Without it, Medicare denies the claim.
- Letting the initial DSMT hours expire. The 10 initial hours must be furnished within a continuous 12-month period.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Diabetes self-management training. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/diabetes-self-management-training
- Using a non-accredited DSMT program. Medicare covers DSMT only from a program holding accreditation from a CMS-approved organization. Ask the program which accreditation it holds before you enroll.
- Getting MNT from someone who is not a registered dietitian. A health coach or a diabetes educator who is not an RD or other qualifying nutrition professional cannot bill MNT.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medical nutrition therapy services - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services
- Assuming every prediabetic qualifies for MDPP. You need a qualifying lab value within the prior 12 months, a BMI of at least 25 (or at least 23 if you self-identify as Asian), no prior diabetes diagnosis other than gestational diabetes, and no end-stage renal disease.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 410.79 — Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model. ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-410.79
How Brevy Can Help
Brevy helps Georgia Medicare beneficiaries and their families understand DSMT, MNT, and MDPP coverage: whether your services are covered, whether your program is accredited, whether your dietitian meets Medicare's requirements, whether you qualify for MDPP, and whether to appeal a denial. Brevy provides information and advocacy, not medical care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many hours of DSMT does Medicare cover?
Up to 10 hours of initial training (1 hour individual plus 9 hours group), which must be furnished within a continuous 12-month period, then up to 2 hours of follow-up training in each calendar year after the year you complete the initial training.
How much does Medical Nutrition Therapy cost?
Nothing, when you qualify. Medicare pays 100 percent of the payment amount, so there is no coinsurance, and MNT is one of the enumerated services the Part B annual deductible does not apply to.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Medical nutrition therapy services - Medicare.gov. medicare.gov. Retrieved Aug 9, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services
Who can provide DSMT and MNT?
DSMT must come from a program holding accreditation from a CMS-approved organization; the American Diabetes Association and ADCES both accredit programs and publish directories. MNT must be furnished by a registered dietitian or qualified nutrition professional who meets 42 CFR 410.134.
Who qualifies for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program?
Beneficiaries enrolled in Part B who, within the prior 12 months, have a hemoglobin A1c of 5.7 to 6.4 percent, a fasting plasma glucose of 110 to 125 mg/dL, or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test of 140 to 199 mg/dL, plus a BMI of at least 25 (at least 23 if self-identified as Asian) on the date of the first core session, no previous diabetes diagnosis other than gestational diabetes, and no end-stage renal disease.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 410.79 — Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program expanded model. ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 10, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-410.79
Can DSMT and MNT be delivered by telehealth in Georgia?
The general Medicare flexibilities that let you receive telehealth at home anywhere in the country run through December 31, 2027, and after that most non-behavioral telehealth reverts to requiring you to be in a rural area at an approved originating site.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Telehealth Insurance Coverage. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 24, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/telehealth Whether your specific DSMT or MNT session can be billed as telehealth also depends on Medicare's telehealth services list and on how your program delivers it, so ask the program before you schedule.
Can I get both DSMT and MNT in the same year?
Yes. They are separate benefits. DSMT teaches overall diabetes self-management; MNT is targeted nutrition counseling. Newly diagnosed beneficiaries often use both.
Can I appeal a denied DSMT, MNT, or MDPP claim?
Yes. Original Medicare has five appeal levels. Level 1 is a redetermination by the Medicare Administrative Contractor, which for Georgia is Palmetto GBA, and you must request it within 120 days of receiving the Medicare Summary Notice carrying the denial. There is no minimum dollar amount at that level.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Appeals in Original Medicare. medicare.gov. Retrieved Jul 15, 2026, from https://www.medicare.gov/providers-services/claims-appeals-complaints/appeals/original-medicare GeorgiaCares SHIP offers free counseling to help you through it.Administration for Community Living. (n.d.). Administration for Community Living — State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP). acl.gov. Retrieved Jul 30, 2026, from https://acl.gov/programs/connecting-people-services/state-health-insurance-assistance-program-ship
Learn More
Find personalized help understanding your Georgia Medicare benefits for diabetes education and nutrition at brevy.com.
The information on Brevy.com is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal, financial, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and program and change frequently. Always verify with the relevant agency or a qualified professional. Brevy is not a law firm, financial advisor, or healthcare provider.