[Diabetes-Talk] FW: DAN rocks! CMS rule reversal

Tue Jun 26 19:07:45 UTC 2018

Wow, exciting. Thanks for sharing.

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Walter
Mitchell via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2018 1:47 PM
To: Diabetes-Talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Walter Mitchell <walterl.mitch2 at gmail.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] FW: DAN rocks! CMS rule reversal

From: Walter Mitchell [mailto:walterl.mitch2 at gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, June 26, 2018 10:51 AM
To: Diabetes Action Network of Ohio
Cc: NFB of Ohio Cincinnati Chapter List; NFB of Ohio Announcement and
Discussion List; bernienfb75 at gmail.com
Subject: DAN rocks! CMS rule reversal

Hello all,

The National Diabetes Action Network can proudly put a winn in their books.
Please read on to understand why:

*Article from our National President's notebook:

CMS Reversal:

Thanks to the advocacy of the Federation and our Diabetes Action Network, a
<https://www.cms.gov/medicare-coverage-database/details/article-details.aspx
?articleid=52464+> 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
<https://med.noridianmedicare.com/web/jadme/policies/dmd-articles/continuous
-glucose-monitors-use-of-smart-devices> coverage policy was posted last 
-glucose-monitors-use-of-smart-devices> 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. 

Please read the official announcement from CMS below:

*Announcement of Important Changes Impacting Medicare Coverage of Continuous
Glucose Monitors

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

And here is a link to the Durable Medical Equipment page from the CMS
website where the announcement was publicly posted:

https://www.cms.gov/Center/Provider-Type/Durable-Medical-Equipment-DME-Cente
r.html

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.

Thank you,

Walter Mitchell

National Board member, Diabetes Action Network

(513) 582-8606

Walterl.mitch2 at gmail.com

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