| Medicare was initially designed to cover acute care | | | | self-management education must be taught by a |
| and it did not cover any routine services such as | | | | certified diabetes educator (CDE) or a registered |
| an annual physical, mammogram, prostate cancer | | | | nurse. Keep in mind, that the ten hours is for |
| screenings, etc. However, after 2002 Medicare | | | | either diabetes education, medical nutrition therapy |
| Part B now pays for routine diabetic services, | | | | or a combination of both. Anyone with Type 1 or |
| supplies and education. | | | | Type 2 diabetes can receive diabetes education |
| - Screening - For people with Medicare at risk for | | | | sessions if you have a referral from your primary |
| getting diabetes, Medicare covers up to two | | | | care physician and meet certain criteria. |
| screening blood sugar tests each to check for | | | | - Blood Glucose Monitoring Supplies- Medicare will |
| diabetes. You are considered at risk if you have | | | | cover the 80% of the costs of glucose meters, |
| any of the following: high blood pressure, | | | | strips and lancets after your Part B deductible. If |
| dyslipidemia (history of abnormal cholesterol and | | | | you are insulin dependent, Medicare will cover 100 |
| triglyceride levels), obesity, or a history of high | | | | test strips and 100 lancets every month and one |
| blood sugar. | | | | lancing device every 6 months. If you are not |
| - Medical Nutrition Therapy - Medical nutrition | | | | insulin dependent Medicare will cover this quantity |
| therapy is meeting one on one with a registered | | | | every three months and one lancing device every |
| dietician or other certified nutrition professionals to | | | | six months. If you need more than this, you will |
| design the meal plan that helps you maintain blood | | | | need a prescription from your doctor. For |
| glucose control. Your primary health care provider | | | | example, if you order a 3 Month complete diabetic |
| must give you a referral indicating a diagnosis of | | | | testing kit which includes a clinically accurate |
| diabetes and a need for medical nutrition therapy. | | | | meter, strips and lancets from for about $60 |
| It also covers gestational diabetes. Medicare will | | | | then, your cost is $12 (20%). |
| pay 80 % of approved amount for up to ten | | | | - Therapeutic Shoes-Therapeutic shoes are |
| hours of counseling with a registered dietician or | | | | covered for Medicare beneficiaries with Type 1 or |
| other certified nutritional professional in an initial | | | | Type 2 diabetes if they have a peripheral |
| twelve month period. Bear in mind that you can | | | | neuropathy. |
| only receive a total of ten hours of medical | | | | - Insulin Pumps-If you require an insulin pump to |
| nutrition therapy or diabetes self-management | | | | deliver small doses of insulin at regular intervals |
| education or a combination of both in the same | | | | throughout the day and night, Medicare will cover |
| twelve month period. If follow-up sessions are | | | | 80% of the approved cost if you have Type 1 or |
| needed, you will need a new referral from your | | | | Type 2 diabetes. Of course, you need a |
| doctor stating that your medical condition has | | | | prescription and you must have completed a |
| changed and adjustments to your meal plan are | | | | diabetes education program. |
| necessary. | | | | As always, check with your managed care |
| - Diabetes self-management education- Diabetes | | | | representative as plans may vary. |