J Korean Diabetes.  2015 Mar;16(1):1-5. 10.4093/jkd.2015.16.1.1.

Urgent Reimbursement Need for Diabetes Supplies in Blood Glucose Management of Diabetic Patients

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Chonbuk National University and Chonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea. pts@jbnu.ac.kr

Abstract

To achieve long-term diabetic complication reduction and decrease the health care costs, all diabetic patients must have access to the components of diabetes care modality, such as medications, supplies, and self-management education programs. However, our current government policies for diabetic patients are not sufficient to allow for adequate blood glucose control. Our national insurer does not reimburse for diabetes supplies such as blood glucose testing monitors, blood glucose test strips, lancet devices and lancets, insulin syringes and pen needles, and alcohol swabs. The government officer states that national laws, regulations, executive order, and financial problems prohibit the reimbursement of diabetes supplies. However, to achieve good outcomes and decrease the public burden of medical care costs, all stake holders, health care professionals, and diabetic patients should exert effort to require reimbursement of diabetic supplies.

Keyword

Diabetic supplies; Insurance reimbursement; Self-management

MeSH Terms

Blood Glucose*
Delivery of Health Care
Diabetes Complications
Education
Equipment and Supplies*
Health Care Costs
Humans
Insulin
Insurance Carriers
Jurisprudence
Needles
Self Care
Social Control, Formal
Syringes
Blood Glucose
Insulin

Reference

References

1. American Diabetes Association. Third-party reimbursement for diabetes care, self-management education, and supplies. Diabetes Care. 2014; 37(Suppl 1):S118–9.
2. Ministry of Health and Welfare. 2014–2018 Mid-term health insurance plan protection-type reinforcement. Sejong: Ministry of Health and Welfare;2015. p. p17–8.
3. Yeaw J, Lee WC, Aagren M, Christensen T. Cost of self-monitoring of blood glucose in the United States among patients on an insulin regimen for diabetes. J Manag Care Pharm. 2012; 18:21–32.
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6. Kim DJ. Policies for enhancing insurance coverage for diabetes care-focus on diabetes supplies. 2014 International Conference on Diabetes and Metabolism Abstract Book. 2014. 73. Available from: icdm2014. diabetes.or.kr/file/CS3–1.pdf (updated 2014 Oct 17).
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