Author: Julia Vetsikas
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) represents a key intervention for advancing the management of diabetes and enhancing the patient experience. Importantly, pharmacy professionals remain instrumental in CGM access and related patient education efforts. Although diabetes technology has seen increased uptake over the past several years, recent innovation in real-time CGM (rtCGM) highlights an opportunity for increased patient engagement and quality improvement in managed care. During this AMCP Northwest Affiliate CE dinner meeting held on April 13, 2023, experts Nicole Ehrhardt, MD and Carly Rodriguez, PharmD, FAMCP, reviewed evidenced-based recommendations supporting the use of rtCGM in a broader population of insulin-treated patients. A panel discussion featuring regional managed care leaders explored the value of rtCGM in optimizing outcomes and reducing resource utilization among members with diabetes.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded CGM access to beneficiaries on basal-only insulin or those with a history of level two or three hypoglycemia. Although the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) was originally anticipated to be implemented in July, CMS expanded access to CGM on April 16, 2023. This new coverage policy is aligned with consensus guidelines from the ADA and AACE, which recommend CGM for all patients on insulin at the outset of diagnosis. The new LCD, which was proposed in 2022, also removes the term “daily” as a descriptor for insulin to account for potential FDA approval of weekly insulins in the future.
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Intended Audience: This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of medical directors, registered nurses, pharmacy directors, clinical pharmacists, specialty pharmacists, quality directors, as well as network physicians affiliated with various MCOs, health systems, and other payer organizations.
Credit Available: Up to 0.5 credit hour available for nurses (ANCC), pharmacists (ACPE), and physicians (AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™)
Expired
Click here to review – CE ExpiredEducational Objectives
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:
- Describe the risks of hypoglycemia in older patients with diabetes
- Access health plan opportunities to identify underserved populations with diabetes, address the risks of hypoglycemia, and to implement appropriate interventions for prevention of hypoglycemia in high-risk populations
- Identify steps for the delivery of successful quality improvement interventions in diabetes and the role of real-time continuous glucose monitoring
Expert Faculty
Jointly provided by Impact Education, LLC, and Medical Education Resources.
This continuing education activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Dexcom, Inc.