New resources from the American Association for Homecare (AAHomecare) are highlighting the value that durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers provide to their patients using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).
“As some Medicare Advantage plans and Medicaid programs shift coverage of CGM therapy and related supplies to the pharmacy channel, AAHomecare developed new turnkey resources to help diabetes-focused DME suppliers demonstrate the value of prescribing CGM therapy through the DME channel,” the organization said in a Sept. 10 press release. “These resources are designed to support conversations with referral sources and Certified Diabetes Educators, reinforcing the critical role of DME supplies in improving access, support and adherence.”
AAHomecare has created an educational flyer for referral sources, including endocrinologists and primary care physicians that highlight “how partnering with suppliers reduces office burden, streamlines referrals, and provides stronger onboarding and ongoing support.”
A second flyer is designed for Certified Diabetes Educators to demonstrate “how suppliers reinforce training, ensuring continuity of therapy and providing real-world support that empowers end users to succeed with CGM therapy.”
“These resources give suppliers a professional, consistent way to engage with clinicians and show them that DME suppliers are more than product providers — we’re partners in patient success,” said Linda Langiotti, SVP strategic channels at CCS Medical and chair of AAHomecare’s diabetes council. “Starting a new therapy is challenging for many patients. It’s critical that clinicians understand the difference DME suppliers make helping patients thrive on their CGM therapy.”
Both flyers list the many benefits of partnering with DME suppliers, including accelerated start of CGM therapy, reduced work for doctors’ offices, more efficient prescribing, improved access even in underserved areas, coverage experts, and compliance-centered resupply programs.
In fact, a study published in May in Clinical Diabetes, the journal of the American Diabetes Association, supported the theory that patients who received CGM supplies from DME suppliers were more adherent to their physician-prescribed regimens than patients who received CGM supplies from pharmacies.
And AAHomecare pointed out its successful efforts “in safeguarding patient access to CGM therapy through the DME channel, including recent advocacy wins in Arizona (SB 1132) and Arkansas (Act 857). The new resources mark another step in ensuring that clinicians and educators recognize the indispensable role of DME suppliers in diabetes management.”
“These resources help the HME [home medical equipment] community show clinicians and educators how DME suppliers provide specialized support, helping ensure people with diabetes achieve the best outcomes while highlighting the importance of preserving the DME channel,” said David Chandler, VP of payer relations for AAHomecare. “By reinforcing the value of supplier-led care at the practice level, they also strengthen our ongoing advocacy to protect access to CGM therapy through suppliers.”
