[Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - Regarding Insurance Coverage of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics

Mon Jul 26 12:14:21 UTC 2010

Dear Friends and Prodigy Partners:

It has been a pleasure for Prodigy(tm) to listen to and make Access Award winning products over the past 6+ years to benefit the people in the blind diabetic community which we serve.

I have had the pleasure to go to many of the National Blind Association trade shows across the country and meet personally with the Presidents and leaders of these associations. The NFB has made a bold move to make it their priority to mandate that accessible diabetes products be made available, covered by insurance and on retail chain store shelves. All of the Blind Association Presidents and leaders I have spoken to are in agreement that if we work together to form one collective voice our message cannot be ignored. Prodigy(tm) continues to stand alone in listening to and answering the needs of the blind diabetic. In addition to the Prodigy Voice(tm), Prodigy(tm) has recently released the new Prodigy Count-a-dose(tm) and we plan to release the Prodigy IQ(tm) totally audible and accessible insulin pump (the dream of our friend Ed Bryant) and other new accessible products 1st quarter of 2011. We are also working to make available excellent training materials (created by the NFB + BISM) to close the loop and teach living skills with blindness and diabetes available free to all Prodigy(tm) customers. 

Prodigy(tm) makes new products accessible and together we will work together to make them available.

As always, Prodigy(tm) is Here to Help,

Jerry Munden (Living well with Type I for 30+ years ... and you can too!)
Vice President of Business Development

Prodigy Diabetes Care, LLC

9300 Harris Corners Parkway, Suite 450

Charlotte, NC 28269

Desk: 704-285-6454   Cell: 704-962-1243

Email: jerrym at prodigymeter.com

Web: www.prodigymeter.com

Let's Talk Diabetes Blog: http://letstalkdiabetes.wordpress.com/

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-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vincent Chaney
Sent: Sunday, July 25, 2010 2:24 AM
To: Everett Gavel; Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - Regarding Insurance Coverage of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics

Everett,

The Resolution 2010-13 you have presented is the entire document I had submitted and was approved. The closure of the resolution was intended to include the recommendation to our state representatives (state senators, congressmen, assemblymen and any other title used within states) that individual state laws would have to encompass private insurers to follow the guidelines of the formulary list, upon the inclusion of accessible medical equipment/devices.
I wanted to start at the top by initially addressing Health and Human Services to create the model to be followed. Then extend this as a guideline with offering our, The NFB, NFB DAN and each of us willing to be advocates, involvement and assistance to all US States and private insurance companies to amend this inclusion of accessible medical equipment.

Vinny
Vincent Chaney Jr
NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board of Directors NFBNJ Diabetes Division President NJAGDU (NFBNJ Association of Guide Dog Users) Division President NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President NFBNJ Resolutions Committee Member NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
Mail: vgc732 at optonline.net

----- Original Message -----
From: "Everett Gavel" <everettgavel at att.net>
To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Saturday, July 24, 2010 6:19 PM
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Resolution 2010-13 - Regarding Insurance Coverage of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics

Hi All,

Vincent mentioned his resolution recently.  It is coming out soon in the Braille Monitor, yes, but can also be found on the Resolutions page here:
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Resolutions.asp?SnID=4

On that page, just click on the '2010 Resolutions'
link.

Or, simply read below.  ;-)

Strive On!
Everett

Resolution 2010-13
Regarding Insurance Coverage of Accessible Equipment for Diabetics

     WHEREAS, standard medical treatment for diabetics calls for the patient to monitor blood glucose levels so that he or she can make adjustments in the amount of insulin needed; and

     WHEREAS, certain health insurance plans dictate what brand of diabetic equipment a member must use to comply with the treatment regimen, claiming that this strategy controls costs for both the insurer and the insured; and

     WHEREAS, most insurance companies contract strictly with one manufacturer, who typically provides only inaccessible blood glucose meters and inaccessible insulin injection devices, presenting a serious obstacle to complying with the testing regimen for tens of thousands of blind people with diabetes; and

     WHEREAS, the failure to place accessible blood glucose meters and accessible insulin injection devices on the insurers' formulary lists not only is a barrier to independence for blind diabetics, but also adversely affects their quality of life because of the added difficulties they must confront in attempting to manage and control their diabetes; and

     WHEREAS, the only way blind diabetics can acquire an accessible blood glucose meter or accessible insulin injection device is through a long and complicated process of submitting extensive medical documentation, and approval is not guaranteed; and

     WHEREAS, blind people have the same right to health care as their sighted peers; and

     WHEREAS, insurance companies must no longer be allowed to discriminate against blind people because of their need for specialized equipment; and

     WHEREAS, the denial of accessible equipment by insurance companies undermines the emphasis on preventive care set forth in the 2010 federal healthcare reform legislation: Now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the National Federation of the Blind in Convention assembled this seventh day of July, 2010, in the city of Dallas, Texas, that this organization strongly urge the secretary of health and human services to eliminate discrimination against the blind by requiring that Medicare, Medicaid, and all other medical insurance programs under the secretary's jurisdiction cover accessible equipment for diabetics; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this organization strongly urge state legislatures and regulators to eliminate discrimination against the blind by requiring private medical insurance companies to cover accessible equipment for diabetics.

** This seems slightly stunted at the end there.
Vincent, or Mike, was there more, or is that the true ending for this resolution?  Either way, good work, and thanks for it!  ~Everett.

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