July 27, 2016
The Honorable Susan Collins
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Collins:
On behalf of the millions of members and supporters of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, I am writing to endorse S. 804, the “Medicare CGM Access Act,” which would provide Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitoring devices for beneficiaries with diabetes who meet specified medical criteria.
The importance of Medicare coverage for continuous glucose monitors was brought to my attention by a woman who wrote to me from Kansas City, MO, about her situation. She has Type I diabetes which she had been managing very well with an insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor that were covered by her employer-provided insurance. Medicare is now her primary insurance, and she is having difficulty managing her diabetes because Medicare will only cover the insulin pump but not the continuous glucose monitor which alerts her when she needs insulin. She has needed emergency assistance due to recurring hypoglycemia, often at night, and not being alerted to the drop in her blood sugar.
Thank you for your leadership on this important issue. We look forward to working with you to secure enactment of the “Medicare CGM Access Act,” which would improve the lives of Medicare beneficiaries who are living with diabetes by preventing costly and life-threatening complications.
Sincerely,
Max Richtman
President and CEO