Ongoing diabetes education continues to deliver results of better health and reduced private insurance and Medicare claims, according to preliminary data from a study of private insurance and Medicare claims commissioned by the American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE). The new study data show that people who receive continuing diabetes education after the initial one-year period demonstrated fewer inpatient hospital admissions and higher compliance with diabetes medications.
The authors studied three years of claims data (2005-2007) from commercial insurance and Medicare plans that reflect care of 634,645 individuals with diabetes. The researchers compared claims from those who received diabetes education with those who did not. The preliminary results of this latest study, which adds a further year of experience, show that the benefits of diabetes education continue to be observed in the study population.
One year ago, AADE first presented the results of the study, which was among the first to state with statistical certainty that diabetes education reduces healthcare costs and improves public health. The update to the study demonstrates that ongoing diabetes education beyond the first year continues to yield benefits, and it bolsters the argument for additional reimbursement by Medicare and private insurers for diabetes education. Currently, Medicare pays for one hour of individual education and nine hours of group education in the first year; and two hours of group education in subsequent years. The study also includes an additional year of data that reinforces the initial claim that diabetes education in general reduces claims and increases compliance with medications.
Professionally qualified diabetes educators teach individuals with diabetes and pre-diabetes the essential tools needed to control their diabetes: accurately monitoring blood glucose levels, adopting healthy eating habits, engaging in appropriate exercise, and coping with specific diabetes-related emotional and physical challenges. Professionally qualified diabetes educators are state licensed or registered healthcare professionals, most commonly nurses or advanced practitioners, dietitians, pharmacists, or podiatrists.
Source: American Association of Diabetes Educators, August 6, 2010
Case Studies from Diabetes Medical Home Pilots: Key Processes, Tools, Metrics and Outcomes
This resource offers a detailed look at two physician-health plan partnerships in diabetes disease management — a care coordination pilot for New Jersey state employees with diabetes and a hands-on case manager-driven initiative for Medicaid beneficiaries with diabetes in North Carolina.
Case Studies from Diabetes Medical Home Pilots: Key Processes, Tools, Metrics and Outcomes is available from the Healthcare Intelligence Network for $147 by visiting our
Online Bookstore or by calling toll-free (888) 446-3530.
