Walgreens Provides Faster, More Convenient Access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices Through New Medicare Billing Solut...
November 04 2019 - 9:00AM
Business Wire
Patients Can Now Obtain the Dexcom G6 CGM
System at Any of Walgreens more than 9,200 Retail Pharmacy
Locations
Walgreens is launching a new billing solution to allow Medicare
patients who use the Dexcom G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)
System to fill their prescription at any of its more than 9,200
U.S. retail pharmacy locations. Walgreens is now the largest retail
pharmacy chain providing nationwide distribution for Dexcom
CGM.
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Walgreens new billing solution provides
Medicare patients more convenient access to continuous glucose
monitoring devices. (Photo: Business Wire)
Currently, prescriptions for CGM devices covered by Medicare
Part B are filled through Durable Medical Equipment suppliers,
manufacturers or limited pharmacies, which can result in additional
healthcare costs and delays in obtaining devices. With Walgreens
new billing solution, patients who are prescribed the Dexcom G6
will be able to obtain the system quickly and conveniently at their
local Walgreens pharmacy. Walgreens is also working with other CGM
manufactures to incorporate their product into the new Medicare
billing model.
“Leveraging Walgreens nationwide footprint and our expertise in
providing medical billing solutions, we’re able to deliver a unique
combination of personalized care and streamlined processes, making
it easier for physicians and patients to prescribe and fill the
Dexcom G6 at our stores,” said Rick Gates, senior vice president of
pharmacy and healthcare, Walgreens. “This builds on Walgreens
commitment to providing innovative solutions to simplify the
customer experience and support patients managing chronic
conditions, like diabetes.”
Earlier this year, Walgreens announced the expansion of the
Walgreens Find Care™ platform to include Dexcom and additional
connected devices and digital therapeutic solutions for patients
with chronic conditions. On the Walgreens Find Care platform,
diabetes patients can learn how to simplify and centralize critical
health information with state-of-the-art health monitoring devices,
like the Dexcom G6 CGM.
“Research continues to demonstrate CGM should be the standard of
care for all diabetes patients on intensive insulin therapy,” said
Kevin Sayer, executive chairman president and CEO of Dexcom.
“Getting the Dexcom G6 into the hands of Medicare patients through
Walgreens pharmacies is a significant step forward in increasing
access to the most powerful diabetes management tool
available.”
The Dexcom G6 uses a small, wearable sensor and transmitter to
continuously measure and send glucose levels wirelessly to a smart
device or receiver, giving patients real-time glucose data without
the need to prick their finger. The system also offers customizable
alerts and alarms to help avoid dangerous low and high blood sugar
events and a function that allows patients to share their glucose
data in real time with up to 10 followers.
Walgreens also accepts commercial insurance patients for all CGM
devices, as well as Medicare Part B for select specialty
medications and other blood glucose monitoring and supplies.
Patients can get all their diabetes testing supplies at any
neighborhood Walgreens store. Walgreens will bill Medicare Part B
and qualified supplemental insurance, which means little or no out
of pocket cost to patients.
About CGM and the Medicare Coverage Criteria
CGM devices are considered the most significant breakthrough in
diabetes management in the past 40 years1 and Dexcom has been a
leader of those innovations. Diabetes affects nearly 30 million
Americans and is the seventh leading cause of death in the United
States2. The traditional standard-of-care for glucose monitoring
has been a fingerstick meter, which is painful as some patients
needed to test their blood up to 12 times a day. CGM is important
because, in addition to providing the glucose level, it provides
the direction and rate of glucose change with the push of a button
and alerts users when glucose levels are too low or too high.
People with diabetes who take insulin must monitor their blood
glucose levels frequently. Uncontrolled glucose can cause health
complications and even death3,4.
People covered by Medicare who have either Type 1 or Type 2
diabetes and intensively manage their insulin are able to obtain
reimbursement for the Dexcom G6. According to CMS, therapeutic CGM
may be covered by Medicare when all of the following criteria are
met:
- The beneficiary has diabetes mellitus; and,
- The beneficiary has been using a home blood glucose monitor
(BGM) and performing frequent (four or more times a day) BGM
testing; and,
- The beneficiary is insulin-treated with multiple daily
injections (MDI) of insulin or a continuous subcutaneous insulin
infusion (CSII) pump; and,
- The beneficiary’s insulin treatment regimen requires frequent
adjustment by the beneficiary on the basis of therapeutic CGM
testing results; and,
- In six (6) months prior to ordering the CGM, the beneficiary
had an in-person visit with the treating practitioner to evaluate
their diabetes control and determine that the above criteria are
met; and,
- Every six (6) months following the initial prescription of the
CGM, the beneficiary has an in-person visit with the treating
practitioner to assess adherence to their CGM regimen and diabetes
treatment plan.
New Medicare patients can get started today with the system by
talking to their doctor or visiting www.dexcomnow.com.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (walgreens.com), one of the nation's largest drugstore
chains, is included in the Retail Pharmacy USA Division of
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), a global leader in
retail and wholesale pharmacy. Walgreens is proud to be a
neighborhood health, beauty and retail destination supporting
communities across the country, and was named to FORTUNE*
magazine’s 2019 Companies that Change the World list. Approximately
8 million customers interact with Walgreens in stores and online
each day. As of August 31, 2019, Walgreens operates 9,277
drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with its
omnichannel business, Walgreens.com. Walgreens also provides
specialty pharmacy and mail services and offers in-store clinics
and other health care services throughout the United States, most
of which are operated by our health care strategic partners.
*© 2019, Fortune Media IP Limited. Used under license.
1. Clarke SF and Foster JR. A history of blood glucose meters
and their role in self-monitoring of diabetes mellitus. Br J Biomed
Sci. 2012;(3)2:83-93. 2. 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/statsreport14/national-diabetes-report-web.pdf.
Accessed March 31, 2015. 3. Hyperglycemia (High blood glucose).
American Diabetes Association Web site.
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hyperglycemia.html.
Updated August 5, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013. 4. Hypoglycemia
(Low blood glucose). American Diabetes Association Web site.
http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html.
Updated July 16, 2013. Accessed December 3, 2013.
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Kelli Teno Phone: 224-237-4526 kelli.teno@walgreens.com
http://news.walgreens.com @WalgreensNews facebook.com/Walgreens
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