Diabetes Alert Day

Tomorrow (March 23rd) is Diabetes Alert Day. Here is some information that CMS shared around diabetes.

Medicare provides coverage of the following diabetes-related services for qualified Medicare beneficiaries:
• Diabetes screening tests,
• Diabetes self-management training (DSMT),
• Medical nutrition therapy (MNT),
• Glaucoma screening (e.g. dilated eye exam with an intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement), and
• Diabetes supplies (e.g. glucose monitoring equipment and therapeutic shoes) and other services (e.g. foot care).

What Can You Do?
As a trusted source of health care information, your patients rely on your recommendations. CMS requests your help to ensure that all of your eligible patients take advantage of diabetes-related preventive services covered by Medicare.

For More Information
The Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) has developed several educational products related to diabetes-related preventive services covered by Medicare:

o The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers, and Other Health Care Professionals ~ this comprehensive resource provides coverage and coding information on the array of preventive services and screenings that Medicare covers, including diabetes-related services.
o The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page ~ This website provides descriptions and ordering information for MLN preventive services educational products and resources, including diabetes-related services.
o Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services ~ this chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services, including diabetes-related services.
o Diabetes-Related Services Brochure ~ This brochure provides an overview of Medicare’s coverage of diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes.
o Glaucoma Screening Brochure ~ This brochure provides an overview of Medicare’s coverage of glaucoma screening tests, including the dilated eye exam with an IOP measurement.

To order hardcopies of available Medicare Preventive Services products, including the brochures mentioned above, click on “MLN Product Ordering” in the “Related Links Inside CMS” section of the MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page listed above.

Additional Resources
• National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) ~ This website offers numerous resources to help your patients delay or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes, as well as resources to help your patients manage diabetes to prevent serious complications. Check out “Your GAME PLAN to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes: Information for Patients,” a 3-page booklet to help people assess their risk for developing diabetes and take steps to prevent diabetes. For patients with diabetes, “The Power to Control Diabetes is in Your Hands”, contains information about diabetes and related Medicare benefits.
• DiabetesAtWork.org ~ This website contains information for employers to help them reduce health care costs and improve productivity by keeping employees healthy
• American Diabetes Association ~ This website contains a wealth of information about diabetes, treatment, and prevention.