Blue Cross and BCN offer several diabetes prevention and management programs for members

In the face of sobering statistics about diabetes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are working to help members who currently have diabetes or are at risk of getting it.

Consider the following statistics:

• More than 30 million people have diabetes. That’s 1 in 10 individuals — and 1 of 4 don’t know they have it.
• Eighty-four million people are prediabetic. That’s 1 in 3 people — and 9 out of 10 aren’t aware that they are.
• Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S.
• Medical costs for people with diabetes are more than twice the cost for those without it.

Here’s a summary of programs available in 2019. Two are focused on diabetes prevention, while the others are for patients who currently have diabetes.

Diabetes prevention

We’ve joined forces with two independent companies, Solera and Omada, to offer diabetes prevention programs.

• Solera manages the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program for BCN Advantage^SM and Medicare Plus Blue^SM members who are prediabetic. It’s a structured intervention program with the goal of preventing progression to Type 2 diabetes in individuals with prediabetes. The program, which launched in April 2018, includes education and support, and is proven to help participants lose weight, adopt healthy habits and reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes.
  
  For details, see the article on Page 7 of the January-February 2018 issue of BCN Provider News.

• Omada offers a diabetes prevention program for our HMO and PPO commercial populations. Self-funded groups must opt in to offer it to their employees.
  
  The program, which began Jan. 1, 2019, uses coaches from Omada, along with digital health tools, such as wireless digital scales and online resources, to help members lose weight. It’s a technology-driven, intensive behavioral counseling program focused on reducing the risk of obesity-related chronic disease. As part of the program, participants make incremental changes to their nutrition, physical activity, sleep and stress management patterns.

Diabetes management

The following programs include education and insulin or glucose monitoring.

• The Fit4D program provides education and coaching services to select members who meet certain criteria. They must:
  
  • Be fully insured Medicare Plus Blue members, BCN Advantage^SM members, commercial fully insured members or UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust members
  • Have a diagnosis of Type 1 or 2 diabetes
  • Be 18 or older
  • Have an A1c of 8.0 or above
  The program supports members with diabetes as they self‑manage their conditions and follow treatment and care plan recommendations. It includes phone communication, optional text messages and email. It also includes optional online group webinars. There’s no cost for the member.
  
  See the article on Page 15 of the November-December 2018 issue of BCN Provider News for details.

• Livongo, an independent company that focuses on helping people with chronic conditions, is working with Blue Cross and BCN to offer a program for members with diabetes that features blood glucose monitoring and coaching. It’s for commercial HMO and PPO members who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, and whose employer group is self-funded and has opted in to the program. It includes:
  
  
  • High-tech remote monitoring that transmits data in real time
  • Meter and strips (Test strips only work with Livongo’s device.)
  • Certified diabetes educators on call 24/7 for acute events
  • Access to education and free diabetic supplies (lancets and test strips)
  • Personalized coaching, blood glucose level trend management
  • Phone calls from a coach, triggered by out-of-range glucose readings

  In addition, members can get their own clinical data in a user-friendly format to share with their primary care physician and family members. Neither Blue Cross nor Livongo shares information with physicians directly. It’s the member’s responsibility to discuss his or her glucose readings with the primary care doctor. However, Livongo encourages members to share information with their providers and sends them automated reminders to do so.

• Hygieia, an insulin guidance service, offers a program that’s free for commercial HMO and PPO members who have Type 2 diabetes and live in Southeast Michigan. It includes individual meetings to help patients make better use of their insulin, which includes get the right dose between doctor visits.
  
  Participants receive a hand-held device and d-Nav^® software, which provide insulin dose recommendations when the member is due to take an insulin dose. It adjusts the recommended dosage as necessary so the patient’s blood sugar remains under control.
  
  
  • Members receive the d-Nav device, blood glucose test strips, control solution and lancets at no extra cost.
  • To initiate the d-Nav service, members must visit a Hygieia clinic. Clinics are only located in Southeast Michigan at this time.
  This program requires participants to follow up in person and by phone as appropriate. Hygieia reaches out to the member’s primary care physician to communicate expected outcomes. Hygieia also informs the member’s physician of any significant changes and gives them access to a secure physician portal to follow the progress of their patients.