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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Hello all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The National Diabetes Action Network can proudly put a winn in their books. Please read on to understand why:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>*Article from our National President’s notebook:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>CMS Reversal:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Thanks to the advocacy of the Federation and our Diabetes Action Network, a <<a href="https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/article-details.aspx?articleid=52464+">https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/article-details.aspx?articleid=52464+</a>> Medicare coverage decision regarding continuous glucose monitors (CGM) was reversed, effective as of June 7, 2018. There will be a blog post out later this week with more details. The original coverage policy denied Medicare beneficiaries reimbursement for their CGM if they used a mobile application in conjunction with the device, which was in practical terms the only way that blind CGM users could effectively use the device. The new <<a href="https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jadme/policies/dmd-articles/continuous-glucose-monitors-use-of-smart-devices">https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jadme/policies/dmd-articles/continuous-glucose-monitors-use-of-smart-devices</a>> coverage policy was posted last week and we can now inform our members with diabetes who are also Medicare beneficiaries that they now have access to this important innovation in diabetes management technology. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Please read the official announcement from CMS below:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><b><span lang=EN style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>*Announcement of Important Changes Impacting Medicare Coverage of Continuous Glucose Monitors</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Based on input from patients and other stakeholders, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is announcing important changes in its written policies regarding how Medicare covers continuous glucose monitors (CGMs). These changes are consistent with the Agency’s approach of putting patients first and incentivizing innovation and use of e-technology. </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CGMs are items of durable medical equipment (DME) that provide critical information on blood glucose levels to help patients with diabetes manage their disease. In January 2017, CMS issued a ruling providing for Medicare coverage of therapeutic CGMs. The ruling was followed by a policy article issued by the Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors on March 23, 2017 to provide coverage guidance for these devices.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>CMS heard from numerous stakeholders who shared their concerns that Medicare’s CGM coverage policy limited their use of CGMs in conjunction with their smartphones, preventing them from sharing data with family members, physicians, and caregivers.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>After a thorough review of the law and our regulations, CMS is announcing that Medicare’s published coverage policy for CGMs will be modified to support the use of CGMs in conjunction with a smartphone, including the important data sharing function they provide for patients and their families.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>The Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors will issue a revised policy article in the near future, at which time the published change will be effective.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>And here is a link to the Durable Medical Equipment page from the CMS website where the announcement was publicly posted:</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="https://www.cms.gov/Center/Provider-Type/Durable-Medical-Equipment-DME-Center.html">https://www.cms.gov/Center/Provider-Type/Durable-Medical-Equipment-DME-Center.html</a></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;line-height:18.0pt;background:#E8FFFF;vertical-align:top'><span lang=EN style='font-size:9.5pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>This is a very important win for the Diabetes Action Network, but there is much more work to accomplish. If you will attend the 2018 National Convention, please consider joining us at the DAN session and I encourage you to get involved.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Thank you,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>Walter Mitchell<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>National Board member, Diabetes Action Network<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText>(513) 582-8606<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><a href="mailto:Walterl.mitch2@gmail.com">Walterl.mitch2@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>