Mail-order program: MedPAC finds no change in health outcomes
By HME News Staff
Updated Thu April 16, 2020
WASHINGTON - Medicare spending for diabetes testing supplies decreased by 88% between 2010-2017, according to a new report from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, but health outcomes have remained stable.
Since the national mail-order program was implemented in 2013, the use of diabetes testing supplies is down overall, but retail sales of supplies is up, says the report, “Examining Impacts of the National Mail-Order Program on Medicare Service Utilization and Beneficiary Health Outcomes.”
MedPAC found that health outcomes have stayed the same for diabetics and insulin users, and rates of hospitalization emergency room visits and mortality have stayed the same for those users since the program began.
The national mail-order program is on hold indefinitely.
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