Insulin Saving Model NEW for 2021

Making Insulin More Affordable for People with Medicare More than 3.3 million people with Medicare use one or more of the common forms of insulin every day. Unfortunately, the cost of insulin has nearly tripled over the past ten years, from about $100 to $300 a vial, and out-of-pocket costs for the drug for people with Medicare can significantly fluctuate from month to month, making budgeting and management of a person’s diabetes more difficult. Starting October 15, 2020, people with Medicare will be able to enroll in a Medicare drug plan that offers insulin for no more than a $35 copay for a month’s supply. Coverage will begin on January 1, 2021. While all plans that are participating in Medicare’s new “insulin savings model” guarantee that your cost-sharing is capped at $35 for a month’s supply of insulin, some plans may offer even lower copays. Participating plans cover different types and brands of insulin, and it’s important to check each plan’s formulary to find out your exact cost, starting in the deductible phase, and going through the initial coverage, and coverage gap phases of your Medicare drug benefit. By enrolling in a participating plan, people with Medicare may save hundreds of dollars per year on your out-of-pocket costs for insulin, and you’ll always know exactly what you’ll be paying each

»

;

ASK THE PHARMACIST… about insulin sliding scales

Question: Sliding Scale orders for insulin is time consuming and sometimes confusing. Is there a better way to prescribe insulin for elderly patients? Answer: According to recent guidelines published in February 2017 by the American Diabetes Association sliding-scales are NOT RECOMMENDED in long-term care. Diabetes affects up to 33% of patients in long-term care facilities The most commonly prescribed insulin therapy for patients in long-term care is sliding-scale insulin (SSI), the use of finger-stick blood glucose testing to assess the need for insulin administration based on current blood glucose levels. Its sole use for long-term treatment is specifically not recommended Recent updates to several published guidelines, including CMS, the Beers criteria, the American Medical Directors Association, and the American Diabetes Association regarding the use of SSI-only insulin regimens for elderly patients in long-term care all advise simplified treatment regimens and avoidance of “sliding-scale” regimens. Below is a summary of the recommendations: Hypoglycemia risk is the most important factor in determining glycemic goals due to the catastrophic consequences in this population. Simplified treatment regimens are preferred and better tolerated. Sole use of SSI should be avoided. Liberal diet plans have been associated with improvement in food and beverage intake in this population. To avoid dehydration and unintentional weight loss, restrictive therapeutic diets should be minimized. Physical activity and exercise are important

»

;

ASK THE PHARMACIST…about Insulin Sliding Scales

Question:  Sliding Scale orders for insulin is time consuming and sometimes confusing.  Is there a better way to prescribe insulin for elderly patients?   Answer: According to recent guidelines published in February 2017 by the American Diabetes Association sliding-scales are NOT RECOMMENDED in long-term care. Diabetes affects up to 33% of patients in long-term care facilities The most commonly prescribed insulin therapy for patients in long-term care is sliding-scale insulin (SSI), the use of finger-stick blood glucose testing to assess the need for insulin administration based on current blood glucose levels. Its sole use for long-term treatment is specifically not recommended Recent updates to several published guidelines, including CMS, the Beers criteria, the American Medical Directors Association, and the American Diabetes Association regarding the use of SSI-only insulin regimens for elderly patients in long-term care all advise simplified treatment regimens and avoidance of “sliding-scale” regimens. Below is a summary of the recommendations: Hypoglycemia risk is the most important factor in determining glycemic goals due to the catastrophic consequences in this population. Simplified treatment regimens are preferred and better tolerated. Sole use of SSI should be avoided. Liberal diet plans have been associated with improvement in food and beverage intake in this population. To avoid dehydration and unintentional weight loss, restrictive therapeutic diets should be minimized. Physical activity and exercise are

»

;