CGM use increases to one in six Medicare Advantage members, study finds

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There was a notable increase in the use of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) among Medicare Advantage members with Type 2 diabetes from 2021-23, according to a new study published in the current issue of the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy (JMCP) and conducted by a Humana Healthcare Research team and Dr. Joseph S. Ross of the Yale School of Medicine.

The proportion of Medicare Advantage members with Type 2 diabetes who use insulin and CGMs increased from fewer than two in 100 in January 2021 to about one in six by December 2023, researchers found.

"This research is significant because, until now, there has been limited information about the use of continuous glucose monitors among Medicare Advantage members—a population in which diabetes and the management of multiple health conditions are common," said Dr. Mark Mugavin, medical director at Humana. "These insights help us identify which patients may benefit most from CGMs, including those who do not visit the doctor frequently, and guide our strategies for reaching and supporting those who need them most. Ultimately, this work enables us to improve health outcomes by ensuring that more members receive timely and effective diabetes management tools."

The study also compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of members with Type 2 diabetes who used CGMs with those who did not in 2023, finding that the CGM users often had more complex health problems than those who did not.

Additional findings:

• The growth in adoption of CGMs was concurrent with the expansion of Medicare coverage for the devices in 2023.
• In the 2023 study group, patients who had an endocrinology visit during the year were more than four times as likely to use a CGM device.
• The analysis found that patients with fewer interactions with the health care system, as well as those in the oldest age group, were less likely to use CGMs.

As a subsidiary of Humana, Humana Healthcare Research collaborates with leading academic and industry partners to advance and shape innovation in care delivery and health policy for better outcomes.

Access the study here.