Bipartisan Diabetes Caucus Works to Increase Access for Artificial Pancreas Systems

Washington, DC -- Congressional Diabetes Caucus Co-Chairs Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Tom Reed (R-NY) sent a letter signed by 214 House members to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services advocating for coverage of artificial pancreas systems.

“When the Food and Drug Administration approved the first-ever commercial version of an artificial pancreas system two years ago, it was a transformative moment for people with type 1 diabetes and a huge step forward for medicine,” DeGette said. “We worked hard to bring the FDA to that point. Two years later, we’re prepared to work just as hard to ensure that Medicare will cover the costs for patients who qualify for these systems. Medicare beneficiaries should have the same coverage for this breakthrough technology that they might have with private insurance.”  

“We care about ensuring people with diabetes have access to the technology which works best for them to help manage their complex disease,” Reed said. “We feel there is no fair reason for government bureaucrats to delay coverage for diabetics when many private insurers already cover artificial pancreas systems for diabetics.”

Artificial pancreas systems are the newest wave of diabetes management technologies. They combine a continuous glucose monitor, an insulin pump and a smart algorithm which automatically dose and deliver insulin to a person with diabetes in real time without the need for user input. 

The nation’s 25 largest private insurers already cover the first generation of AP systems, but Medicare does not.