How To Learn More
- For more information on all of the options available under Medicare, visit: www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE . Also look for the Medicare and You handbook which Medicare mails to beneficiaries in the fall and is available by calling 1-800-MEDICARE .
- To read more about Medicare coverage of diabetes services and supplies, go to .
- For information from Medicare on how individuals might be able to get help paying Medicare costs visit www.medicare.gov/your-medicare-costs/help-paying-costs/get-help-paying-costs.html or call 1-800-MEDICARE .
- Free health insurance counseling and personalized assistance for Medicare beneficiaries is available in every state through the State Health Insurance Assistance Program . Call 1-800-MEDICARE or visit www.shiptacenter.org to find the telephone number of the SHIP office closest to you.
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Abbotts Freestyle Libre 2 Cgm Picks Up Medicare Coverage
Abbott announced yesterday that its recently cleared FreeStyle Libre 2 integrated continuous glucose monitoring system is now covered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services , and available to Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes who meet eligibility criteria.
Indicated for diabetes management in patients aged four years or older, the updated version of Abbotts system can sound the alarm when a users glucose is out of range. Data from a 14-day upper-arm sensor is transmitted to a handheld device, which the wearer can use to view their current readings and recent trends.
Abbott designed the FreeStyle Libre portfolio for performance, access and affordability to make it broadly available to people with diabetes who need it, Jared Watkin, SVP of diabetes care at Abbott, said in a statement. By securing reimbursement, Abbott is making sure our latest life-changing technology can get to everyone who needs it, whether theyre children, adults or seniors eligible for Medicare.
WHATS THE IMPACT?
According to the CDC and CMS, diabetes affects roughly 25% of U.S. adults aged 65 years or older.
While prior devices in the FreeStyle Libre family have already been available to this population, access to the Libre 2s automated alert features could simplify the challenges of glucose management for these older adults.
THE LARGER TREND
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Medicare Now Allows Cgm Use With Smartphone Apps Including Sharing Features
After over a year of continued advocacy, Medicare will cover mobile CGM use and sharing Medicares policy will be updated by June 21, if not earlier
Medicare beneficiaries can now use continuous glucose monitors with approved smartphone apps, such as Dexcoms G5 mobile app! The news represents a major win after 15 months of advocacy to overturn Medicares much-criticized policy not to allow use of CGM with smartphone apps. According to Dexcom, the deadline for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to update the coverage policy is June 21, if not sooner.
Current G5 users on Medicare do not have to purchase a new receiver or transmitter to use the G5 app to view their CGM data and share it with loved ones they simply need to download the free G5 app and login with their Dexcom account. The G5 app can be found here for Apple devices and here for Android devices. We recommend waiting until June 21 to do so.
Like other users, G5 Medicare beneficiaries can now choose to view real-time glucose data on the G5 app only, the receiver only, or both devices. New Medicare users will still have to purchase a G5 receiver.
Both Medtronics Guardian Connect and Senseonics Eversense CGMs will not be covered by Medicare until they obtain updated FDA labeling .
It is unclear yet whether this coverage decision will extend to using CGM with connected insulin pumps, such as the t:slim X2, which displays G5 CGM data.
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Continuous Glucose Monitoring Following Gastric Bypass And For Nesidioblastosis
Hanaire et al stated that hypoglycemia is rare after a gastric bypass and can be taken for a dumping syndrome. There is no report in the literature of the contribution of continuous glucose monitoring to the diagnosis of hypoglycemia in these circumstances. The present case report showed that CGM can be a useful tool for the diagnosis and the management of such episodes. Continuous glucose monitoring revealed hypoglycemic episodes in free living circumstances that were not present during 72-hr fasting. These episodes followed wide hyperglycemic swings. No such episode resumed over 8 months after specific dietary advices and treatment by 50 mg TID of acarbose. Because hypoglycemia can be difficult to diagnose from dumping syndrome, CGM is a very useful tool revealing the episodes in free-living circumstances and can be used to monitor the treatment success. The findings of this single-case study need to be validated by well-designed studies.
UpToDate reviews on “Medical management of patients after bariatric surgery” and “Complications of bariatric surgery” do not mention the use of continuous glucose monitoring.
What Is The Average Cost Of A Cgm Device
The out of pocket costs of CGM devices can be significant, much more than traditional blood glucose monitoring systems. Depending on what model and features you need, you will have to get prescriptions for several different items and purchase them at a retail pharmacy if you dont have insurance coverage. These can include multiple sensors, a transmitter, and receiver. Some models work in conjunction with a smartphone you may already have, in which case you wouldnt need a receiver, like the Dexcom G6. With the Dexcom G6 system, the average retail cost for enough transmitters and sensors for one full year is $6000, or $500 per month! Thats quite a cost prohibitive barrier for a lot of people. This new coverage change announced by Medicare, as well as the continued expansion of private insurance coverage, is good news for diabetics who could benefit from the convenience and improved outcomes possible though the use of CGM devices.
*Please note this information is based on what has been shared publicly, but may not be totally comprehensive. Its important to consult your health plan and your healthcare provider directly.
References
Dexcom, Dexcom Follow, Dexcom CLARITY, and Dexcom Share are registered trademarks of Dexcom, Inc. in the U.S., and may be registered in other countries.
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Are Cgm Devices Water
The FreeStyle Libre 14 day sensor is water-resistant. According to the manufacturer, it will continue working as long as it is not submerged more than three feet or kept underwater longer than 30 minutes at a time.
Dexcom G6 transmitters are water-resistant, and the G6 sensor pod is water-resistant when the transmitter is installed properly. The receiver is not water- resistant or waterproof, and can be damaged if moisture gets inside it.
Study Shows Continuous Glucose Monitors Improve Management Of Type 2 Diabetes
For patients with type 2 diabetes treated with basal or long-acting insulin, the use of continuous glucose monitors can result in significantly lower hemoglobin A1C , and better management of the disease, according to a study recently published in JAMA.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center was one of 15 recruitment centers in the United States for the randomized clinical trial in which researchers compared the effectiveness of traditional finger-stick monitoring to the use of continuous glucose monitors. The eight-month study followed 175 participants with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin who received their diabetes care from a primary care clinician.
Shichun Bao, MD, PhD, associate professor of Medicine, led the effort at VUMC. Bao also leads a Diabetes Technology Program at the Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Clinic, where she guides patients on how to better use devices such as CGMs and insulin pumps to improve diabetes management.
Im not surprised by the results, Bao said. Everybody with diabetes would benefit from using these technologies. And one big strength of this study is the involvement of the participants primary doctors. We didnt manage the participants diabetes we collected the data. We talked on the phone with the patient every two months and sent a report to their primary care providers to share their patients CGM data. The patient saw it, and the primary care provider saw it, and that triggered improvement.
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Continuous Glucose Monitors And Insurance Coverage: What To Know
Continuous glucose monitoring has proved a welcome development in diabetes technology. For diabetics who previously relied on blood glucose meters and daily painful fingersticks, CGM devices have revolutionized care. Now patients can get real time insight into their diabetes management plan. Insurers and healthcare providers have clearly recognized the long-term benefits and cost savings CGM devices bring. When users are able to anticipate and prevent severe hypoglycemic events, there are fewer ambulance rides, hospital admissions and expensive medical treatments.
Medicare and most major private health insurance plans now offer some level of coverage and reimbursement for CGM when prescribed by an endocrinologist or qualifying physician. These include Blue Cross Blue Shield, CIGNA, and United Healthcare, among others. More health plans are being added to the list as successful clinical trials continue and the FDA approves new real-time continuous glucose monitors. They are typically considered durable medical equipment and can be ordered through approved DME companies like Aeroflow and paid for, at least partially, by Medicare or private insurance.
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What Is Normal Blood Sugar By Age
Normal blood glucose levels for adults, without diabetes, is 90 to 110 mg/dL. Learn the symptoms of high and low blood sugar here.Normal blood sugar levels for adolescents.Normal blood sugar levels for adolescentsAge 6-12mg/dLFasting80-180Before meal90-1801-2 hours after eatingUp to 1401 autre ligne
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How Does Cgm Work
With CGM devices, patients, caregivers and healthcare providers can identify patterns in behavior, diet, and blood glucose levels that would otherwise be impossible to see. A CGM device operates via a small water resistant glucose sensor that is placed just below the surface of the skin and held in place with an adhesive patch. These sensors can be worn up to 14 days continuously, usually on the torso or upper arm, transmitting blood glucose levels to a reader every few minutes. Thats a lot of data! More information equals more efficient diabetes management. Continuous glucose monitoring systems have been shown to be better at helping people with Type 1 diabetes lower their HBA1C as compared to traditional self-monitoring.
It is much easier to predict and potentially head off hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia events when you can see where blood glucose levels are headed in advance. This is especially true for those with erratic blood glucose levels, hypoglycemic unawareness, children who cant self-monitor, and others.
Is Cgm Use Appropriate For People With Non
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Click here to read the Cover Story, As diabetes technologies advance, matching patients to the right device challenges providers.
CGM should be used in every diabetes education program for newly diagnosed patients.
I tend to agree with most of my colleagues and say the way glucose monitoring is currently used, it has no value in this population. The data have no value unless they are perceived as actionable information that is reviewed by someone who knows what to do with the numbers. That is the issue.
It is true that most people with type 2 diabetes, especially if they are on medications that are not putting them in danger meaning putting them at risk for hypoglycemia will not need to have glucose numbers flashing all the time. However, CGM offers an opportunity for the person with diabetes to check in with themselves and, ideally, with a health care provider, to look at a variety of things. Am I on the right medication, and is it working? Do I have an opportunity to learn what I need to know to manage my diabetes effectively?
William H. Polonsky
William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDE, is president of the Behavioral Diabetes Institute and an associate professor at the University of California, San Diego. Disclosure: Polonsky reports he has served as a consultant for AstraZeneca, Dexcom, Eli Lilly, Intarcia, MannKind, Merck, Novo Nordisk and Sanofi.
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When Is Dexcom G7 Going To Be Available
We know you guys have been enjoying Dexcom G6 very much. Soon Dexcom and Verily are planning to lounge Dexcom G7. My initial impression is that Dexcom D7 is going to be thinner. Hopefully, it will be less expensive. according to Dexcom G6 is going to be a fully disposable continuous glucose monitor. Due to COVID-19 and coronavirus pandemic, I believe the timeline for Dexcom G7 to hit the market will be delayed. The best expectation would be the end of 2020 or early 2021.
Join our community at SugarMDs and see Dr. Ergin and his team. You will be glad you did because we provide the best concierge service for patients with diabetes. We do everything in our power to get through the best possible care and diabetic devices such as Dexcom G6, Dexcom G7, or freestyle libre. We not only help you get coverage but also remotely monitor you and treat you. You do not have to wait for the doctors office or beg your doctor to see and interpret your Dexcom data. Make sure you visit our YouTube channel and Facebook. Be part of our community.
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Advanced Diabetes Supply has specialized and created a unique expertise in working with Medicare patients and beneficiaries. Advanced Diabetes Supply was the first Medicare distributor to have obtained Medicares required DMEPOS Accreditation. We continue to lead the industry, honing our processes and understanding of Medicare, its coverage and coverage requirements.
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Which Is Better Dexcom G6 Or Freestyle Libre
FreeStyle Libre still requires manual analysis to show a real-time glucose reading as the G6 sends data directly to the receiver / app via Bluetooth. For people with hypoglycemia, G6 may be a better choice. For those who want a simpler or longer dress system, FreeStyle Libre 14day may be preferable.
Will The Dexcom G7 Lose Medicare Part B Coverage
Continuing the discussion from G6 transmitter:
s comment in the G6 transmitter thread made me realize that the Dexcom G7 will not likely be covered under Medicare Part B due to its loss of a durable component.
If no G6, it may switch for G7 since there is no durable part, once G7 is covered.
Yikes! I currently receive my Dexcom G6 supplies as covered by Medicare Part B . Since I also have a supplemental policy, I enjoy zero dollar out-of-pocket expense. It looks like that fortunate reality is about to change.
If your logic about the loss of DME coverage holds, it looks like I might lose all coverage of Dexcom CGMs beginning with the G7 version. The Dexcom G6 line should survive for some time after the G7 is introduced but the G7 design with an integrated throw-away transmitter seems to be the way of the future.
The Medicare Part D Rx coverage I hold does not cover CGMs. Its possible I could shop for and find Dexcom Rx Medicare coverage but I doubt it.
I guess that means that I need to bolster my G6 supply by restarting sensors.
Anyone else surprised by this?
I highly doubt Dexcom would let Medicare coverage go, as thats a big part of their business. Theyre going to jump through hoops to make it happen. Medicare writes their own rules, so they can write anything they want into the rules. Dexcom just has to make it worthwhile to them.
Or maybe certain CGMs will finally be covered under pharmacy benefits?
I would question the definition of durable.
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Dexcom G6 Medicare Patient Coverage Youtube
1:54The Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring system is now available for eligible Medicare Jul 13, 2020 · Uploaded by Dexcom
Dexcom Has You Covered. Dexcom Continuous Glucose Monitor . Commercial Health plan coverage: Dexcom | Corporate Headquarters. 6340 Sequence Drive.2 pages
With the Dexcom G6, a tiny sensor is placed Libre and Dexcom G6 CGMs are covered by Medicare and most private insurance
According to Dexcom, the G6 models lag time is now down to about 4 minutes. But at this time, insurance coverage of CGMs varies greatly.
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Do You Really Need Dexcom
A lot of my patients will want to use Dexcom G6 or freestyle libre just avoid fingersticks. Unfortunately, if you are only taking metformin or only oral agents for diabetes, none of the insurances will cover Dexcom G6. Insurance companies go by medical necessity not necessarily patient convenience. I am all about patient convenience for my patients. On the other hand insurance companies are there to protect their own interests. These devices are expensive and if insurance companies start covering Dexcom for every patient with diabetes the insurance premiums will skyrocket. But do you really need Dexcom G6? Do you really need to carry a device on your body when you can check your blood sugar with a fingerstick a few times a week?
Do you really need Dexcom? Watch this.
Most of the time patients checked her blood sugars excessively. This happens when they are newly diagnosed when they are obsessed with their blood sugars. The truth of the fact this if you are not on medications that cause low blood sugars and your blood sugars are typically in the same or similar range there is no need to keep checking blood sugars every morning or every evening.
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