Consultation on insurance issues and training needed to improve the use of continuous glucose monitoring in primary care

Reviewed by Emily Henderson, B.Sc.Nov 29 2022

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) is associated with improved health outcomes for patients with diabetes. Primary care practices, however, have been slow to adopt the technology.

Researchers used a web-based survey to assess CGM prescribing behaviors and resource needs of U.S. primary care clinicians. They found that clinicians located more than 40 miles from the nearest endocrinologist's office (endocrinologists being more specialized in treating diabetes) were more likely to have prescribed CGM and to have more favorable attitudes toward prescribing the devices in the future compared to clinicians located within 10 miles of an endocrinologist. Clinicians who served more Medicare patients reported more favorable attitudes toward future prescribing and higher confidence in using CGM to manage diabetes than those with fewer Medicare patients.

The authors assert that primary care doctors would benefit from consultation on insurance issues and CGM training to best support prescribing CGMs to their patients. The authors also advocate for continued expansion of Medicare and Medicaid coverage for CGMs.