Author: Chris Kennedy
2018 Medicare Changes You Need To Know
2018 has brought many new changes for Medicare patients. If you have a Medicare plan, you should be aware of these changes. Here are some of the biggest changes that you will see this year, including information and resources regarding new Medicare cards that will begin to be mailed out in April. Continue reading “2018 Medicare Changes You Need To Know” »
What To Expect When You Receive Your New Medicare Card
If you are currently receiving Medicare benefits you have probably already received your new “Medicare & You 2018” Handbook in the mail. One of the biggest changes in Medicare for 2018, is noted right inside the front cover. Medicare will be sending out new Medicare cards to over 60 million people throughout the United States starting in April 2018. Continue reading “What To Expect When You Receive Your New Medicare Card” »
Avoid These Costly Medicare Mistakes
Countless seniors rely on Medicare to cover their healthcare needs in retirement. But contrary to what you may have been led to believe, Medicare isn’t free. In fact, if you’re not careful, you could end up spending far more on Medicare than what’s actually necessary, especially if you make one of the following errors. Continue reading “Avoid These Costly Medicare Mistakes” »
Abbott’s Prick-Free Glucose Monitor Now Available For Medicare Patients With Diabetes
Medicare patients have gained access to a device that allows people with diabetes to keep tabs on their glucose levels without having to routinely prick their fingers, Abbott Laboratories announced January 4th.
Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre System, which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in September and launched in U.S. pharmacies in November, has met the criteria for therapeutic continuous glucose monitoring used for coverage by the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Abbott said.
It is the first Medicare-covered continuous glucose monitor that requires no regular finger-stick or manual data entry for calibration, the company said. It is meant to reduce the intrusion and inconvenience of pausing one’s life multiple times a day to get a blood sample.
The Freestyle Libre is a flash glucose monitoring system that includes a sensor worn on the back of the upper arm and a handheld reader. The sensor uses a thin filament that’s inserted underneath the skin to measure glucose levels every minute. The handheld reader is used to scan the sensor. The factory-calibrated FreeStyle Libre system is the only CGM system recognized by Medicare that requires no user calibration whatsoever (either by fingerstick or manual data entry). The high accuracy of the FreeStyle Libre system allows for patients to dose insulin based on the results.
Designed to be approachable, accessible and affordable for the 30 million people with diabetes in the United States, the FreeStyle Libre system reads glucose levels through a sensor that is worn on the back of the upper arm for up to 10 days, making it the longest lasting personal glucose sensor available in the U.S.
Key differences between the FreeStyle Libre system and other CGM technology include:
- FreeStyle Libre system is factory calibrated so it requires no user calibrations for accuracy, including any manual data entry or the need for routine fingersticks–therefore removing the additional costs and burden of blood glucose monitoring to the patient
- FreeStyle Libre system includes only two pieces (sensor, reader) vs. three for alternative systems (sensor, reader, transmitter), making it much less cumbersome to use
- For non-Medicare patients, FreeStyle Libre system is available at major U.S. retail pharmacies, removing the barrier of complicated paperwork necessary for commercial insurance coverage and making it more readily accessible to patients
Last year, CMS announced coverage for therapeutic CGM for certain beneficiaries who have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and intensively manage their insulin. To be included in this category, the device must be approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in place of a blood glucose monitor (BGM), enabling patients to make treatment decisions based on the information provided. With the recent approval by the FDA, the FreeStyle Libre system can be used as a replacement for BGM.
With the FreeStyle Libre system, people with diabetes can:
- Self-apply the sensor, which is approximately the size of two stacked quarters, to the back of the upper arm.
- Capture real-time glucose readings with one-second painless scans of a small hand-held reader over the sensor.
- Identify glucose level trends (high, low, stable) with a directional arrow and review eight hours of glucose history.
- Receive glucose readings through clothing, making testing more convenient and discreet. The FreeStyle Libre sensor is also water-resistant and can be worn in the shower and during swimming.
- Avoid interference with acetaminophen, an active ingredient in more than 500 common over-the-counter medications, which can falsely raise reported glucose levels in certain CGMs to appear as if they are at dangerously high levels.
Medicare patients can access the FreeStyle Libre system by prescription through Edgepark Medical Supplies, Byram Healthcare, Solara Medical Supplies, Edwards Health Care Services, Better Living Now and Mini Pharmacy in the U.S.
For non-Medicare patients, the FreeStyle Libre system is also available at five major retail pharmacies in the country (CVS, Walgreens, RiteAid, Walmart and Kroger).
The FreeStyle Libre system is now being used by more than 400,000 people across more than 40 countries. Abbott has secured partial or full reimbursement for the FreeStyle Libre system in 21 countries, including France, Japan, the United Kingdom and now the U.S. For more information, please visit: www.freestylelibre.us
Original Article by Alexa Elejade-Ruiz
Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare
Almost every American over the age of 65 is covered by Medicare, or will be after they retire. However, there are a lot of aspects about this massive health insurance program that are not well understood by many people. With that in mind, here are a few things Americans often don’t know about Medicare and what you should know about each. Continue reading “Frequently Asked Questions About Medicare” »
What You Need To Know About The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period
If you missed the opportunity to disenroll from your Medicare Advantage plan during the Oct. 15-Dec. 7 Medicare Annual Election Period (AEP), you have another chance to do so during the current Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP), which begins Jan. 1st, and will continue until Feb. 14th. Continue reading “What You Need To Know About The Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period” »
Are Nursing Homes Covered By Medicare?
It’s estimated that 70% of seniors 65 and over will need some type of long-term care in their lifetime, and that includes nursing home stays. Now if you’re eligible for Medicare, you might assume that if you wind up in a nursing home, your costs will mostly be covered. But actually, that’s not true. Unfortunately, there are a lot of services traditional Medicare doesn’t cover, and nursing home care is one of them. If you really want to protect yourself from this potentially colossal expense, then you’ll need to consider investing in long-term care insurance. Continue reading “Are Nursing Homes Covered By Medicare?” »
Hurricane beneficiaries granted Special Enrollment Period by CMS
CMS has established the following special enrollment period (SEP) to support Medicare beneficiaries impacted by hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. Continue reading “Hurricane beneficiaries granted Special Enrollment Period by CMS” »
The Best Exercises If You Have Diabetes
This article was originally posted on PositiveHealthWellness.com
