Diabetes

Providers who treat people with diabetes have observed the phenomenon of low-income patients who need a lot of medical care not having enough information to choose policies that meet their needs.

This week, the top stories in managed care include President Barack Obama signing the 21st Century Cures Act into law, findings from the CDC that opioid abuse has reduced life expectancy for Americans, and CVS announced a new program to lower costs for patients with diabetes.

A chronic disease management company presents promising preliminary results from their remote intensive behavioral counseling intervention, aimed at addressing type 2 diabetes.

AADE16 Conference Coverage

The American Journal of Managed Care and the American Association of Diabetes Educators have collaborated on a special joint issue of Evidence-Based Diabetes Management, which focuses on the growing evidence for payer coverage of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support and the Diabetes Prevention Program.

Glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes was improved through a shared medical appointment program focusing on lifestyle education and behavior change.

A leading diabetes educator discusses how the role of nutrition has evolved and how payers can do more to promote the role of education in helping patients improve their diets.

Since insurers began pulling out of the individual market in many states, CMS has vowed to crack down on practices that drive up costs.

CVS' Transform Diabetes Care program calls for the use of analytics to identify opportunities for behavioral change or new treatment. The pharmacy benefit manager says it hopes to save clients between $3000 and $5000 annually per member with diabetes.

A recent report from the Government Accountability Office mostly concurs with CMS on a dispute over problems with the Medicare competitive bidding program, following an explosive study in Diabetes Care that found beneficiaries lost access to key supplies.

Diabetes educators are well-positioned to help accountable care organizations meet their business, healthcare, and financial goals. The emphasis on primary care in treating chronic disease calls for an increased emphasis on diabetes educators to achieve better healthcare outcomes in a cost-effective manner.

The American Association of Diabetes Educators has offered extensive comments to CMS on how Medicare reimbursement of the Diabetes Prevention Program should occur, so that community groups offering the program financially thrive.

For several years, the American Association of Diabetes Educators has been collecting evidence that shows that diabetes self-management training programs meeting its accreditation standards warrant coverage by public and private insurers.

The 2015 joint statement of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, the American Diabetes Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics called for diabetes self-management education and support at 4 distinct points: at diagnosis, at annual assessments, when complications arise, and at transitions.

A vascular surgeon suggests that patients with diabetes may have so many issues to cover during a 15-minute appointment that they don't mention occasional leg pain.

Retaining seniors in the Diabetes Prevention Program will be important for community groups offering it through Medicare, because the proposal calls for payment to be based on performance.

This week, the top stories in managed care included poll results that show growing numbers of Republicans want the Affordable Care Act scaled back instead of repealed, Jardiance received a new indication for patients with type 2 diabetes, and CareMore reported care coordination gaps for seniors.

While Frieden reported progress in areas like reducing cigarette smoking, the challenge of reducing obesity remains stubborn.

One-third of seniors say a family member coordinates their care, but another one-third say no one does.

The pharmaceutical leader's move comes after the American Diabetes Association asked Congress to investigate rising insulin prices.

The study found that peer support helped even if the person providing help did not have diabetes but simply had knowledge on the disease.

The study found that periodic interruptions over the course of the day were better for improving levels of insulin resistance than a single burst of exercise.

Researchers considered finding a diabetes drug that also produced a cardiovascular benefit to be a "holy grail."

The phenomenon of "yo-yo" dieting has health consequences and frustrates dieters themselves. Studies show each round of weight loss and weight regain produces harsher metabolic effects.

This week, the top stories in managed care included the president-elect's picks for HHS and CMS, the American Diabetes Association addressed psychosocial care for patients with diabetes, and the American Society of Clinical Oncology released criteria on creating clinical pathways.