I have been contributing to this blog for a while now. My approach is to take something topical or of personal interest and try to make it interesting to the reader. This month's topic is consistent with my approach in that I am writing about something topical and of personal interest. However, this month I am not going to write a whole lot in the blog. I am asking you to take some time and share your professional experience and opinions relative to self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) with the Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission (HERC).
Here's the deal in nutshell. The Oregon Health Policy & Research division of the Oregon Health Authority is proposing that SMBG testing supplies only be covered in patients with type 2 diabetes who have an A1C reading greater than 8%. For those with a reading of 8% or higher, supplies will be covered for 1 x per week testing.
When I first heard this recommendation my response was "are you freaking kidding me? Is this some kind of joke?!" Unfortunately it is not. For years the powers that be have been subtly indicating that there is no "evidence" to support SMBG in type 2 diabetes, and now they are proposing to take action secondary to this lack of evidence.
Maybe you are in agreement that SMBG has no value in type 2 DM. If you believe this, there is nothing to do. However if you believe, like I do, that SMBG is an integral part of diabetes education and patient self efficacy, there is still time to make your voice heard.
For complete details on what is being proposed, please visit this website:
http://www.oregon.gov/oha/OHPR/HERC/docs/CG/SMBG-T1T2-DM-Draft-02-28-13.pdf
Public comments on this topic are being accepted until March 31, 2013. Please see below on how to make your voice heard.
For your comment to be accepted it must:
- be submitted via email to HERC.Info@state.or.us by March 31, 2013.
- include the name of guidance in the subject line of your e-mail (the subject line of your e-mail should read: "Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose for Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes").
- include your name, profession, address, phone number and email address (only your profession, location and comments will be made publicly available)
- Not exceed 1000 words
Additional info:
- Only one submission per person, per topic will be allowed and a separate email must be sent for each topic.
- Comments should include a full citation to any suggested additional peer-reviewed articles (not counted towards the 1,000 word limit). To ensure the suggested articles are reviewed, you should attach copies of the articles with your comments. If we are unable to obtain a cited articles, we will not review the study.
- Comments should not contain links to additional materials. These will not be reviewed.
My hope is that everyone involved with ODE will take a few minutes to give this topic and the injustice of this proposed policy some thought, and then take some time to write your thoughts down and share them with the Oregon Health Evidence Review Commission by March 31, 2013. Thanks!