CCS study: CGMs reduce health care costs, but remain under prescribed

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) among individuals with diabetes treated with bolus insulin is associated with a nearly 20% reduction in total health care costs and a 23% decrease in acute care utilization over one year, according to a new study from CCS. Yet approximately 80% of eligible patients remain without a CGM prescription, the study says. 

CGM users experienced total health care costs of $6,245 compared to $7,786 for non-users, according to the study. 

“The findings provide compelling evidence that continuous glucose monitors represent a high-value, cost-effective intervention that simultaneously improves patient outcomes while reducing health care system spending - and also holds strong potential to increase quality scores, as well,” said Coni Dennis, DNP, RN, and NE-BC, SVP, study author and chief clinical officer at CCS. 

The study, which analyzed 938,740 patients and was published in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, represents one of the largest matched cohort analyses of its kind, CCS says. 

Beyond cost containment, CGM users in the study demonstrated: 

• 19% higher odds of achieving HbA1c below 9%, a critical HEDIS and Medicare STAR performance measure; 

• 20.7% fewer diabetic ketoacidosis-related hospitalizations; 

• 18.1% decrease in combined serious complications requiring emergency or inpatient care; and 

• 4.3% reduction in severe hypoglycemia-related acute events. 

“The data demonstrate that expanding CGM prescribing and patient adoption represents one of the most impactful opportunities available today to simultaneously improve quality metrics, reduce avoidable utilization and deliver better patient outcomes,” said Dennis. 

For more details on the study, please visit: www.ccsmed.com/research.