Michigan

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Michigan Medicaid & CGM Coverage -- Let Your Voice Be Heard

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Comment on the new Michigan Medicaid proposal via email, phone, fax, or letter.

Comment on the new Michigan Medicaid proposal via email, phone, fax, or letter.

Share your experience and thoughts, and let your voice be heard! Michigan Medicaid has proposed a new policy that will allow coverage of continuous glucose monitors (CGM) for eligible members. Now is the time to review the proposed changes in Medicaid policies and procedures. Your comments are due soon — September 26, 2018.

How to Submit Your Comments

Email Address: trumbelll@michigan.gov 

Mailing Address:

Lisa Trumbell, DMEPOS Policy Specialist 

Bureau of Medicaid Policy and Health System Innovation 

Medical Services Administration 

P.O. Box 30479 

Lansing, Michigan 48909-7979 

Telephone Number: 517-284-1226

Fax Number: 517-241-8969 

The proposed effective date is December 1, 2018. Our Healthy Living team has already submitted a letter to Michigan Medicaid to express our support of continuous glucose monitoring therapy as a highly effective way to help people with diabetes manage their disease.

Tape Tips for CGM and Insulin Pump Sites

We are commonly asked for tips on how to help sensors for CGM systems, infusion sets for insulin pumps, and Omnipods stick better - adhesion is even more important during summer months with increased body perspiration.

We routinely reference the Tape Tips from Medtronic's website when working with customers in coming up with ways to help with adhesion. Before purchasing expensive tapes and transparent dressings that might not even work, be sure to try these simple tips. 

One particular tip that may help is listed directly below and involves the use of non-deodorant antiperspirant. 

Use of Non-Deodorant Antiperspirant at Pump and Sensor Sites:

Non-deodorant antiperspirant can be used at pump and sensor sites to suppress the sweat glands so the adhesive sticks better.  It also helps cut down on possible skin reactions.

Certain Dri Solid Non Deodorant Antiperspirant is commonly found in many drug stores.  It should be labeled and only used at pump and sensor sites.  Apply to the pump infusion and/or sensor site.  Let it soak in for 10-15 minutes. Wash the residue off with soap and water or alcohol.  Wipe the top of the applicator with alcohol to keep it clean.  Insert the pump and sensor.  This works like a charm! 

If you are looking for a great customer service from a Michigan based durable medical equipment (DME) supplier for your Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) supplies, insulin pump supplies, and diabetes testing supplies, contact us today to start the easy enrollment process. We're in network with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Health Alliance Plan (HAP) of Michigan, Priority Health, and all other major insurances in the state of Michigan. 

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Swing to Cure Diabetes Celebrates 10 Years

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Michigan Golf Course.jpg

Recently, the Swing to Cure Diabetes golf outing celebrated its 10th anniversary at the Michigan Golf Course. As we have for several years, Healthy Living participated in this awesome event that benefits the JDRF and the Michigan Comprehensive Diabetes Center. Swing to Cure Diabetes was created by Rich and Chris Hewlett to help find a cure for Type 1 diabetes. They started the event after their son, Jeff, was diagnosed. These were Jeff’s thoughts on the event:

“I’m sure my parents started this event thinking, ‘Oh, this will help our son,’” said Jeff Hewlett, who was diagnosed when he was four. “For that I’m certainly grateful, but there are many people who are just like me and many other diabetics who are also grateful. It’s really impacting a lot of people, and you can see it in the research and the advances that have been made for Type 1 diabetes. Hopefully over the years as this thing keeps growing and as we continue with it, it will be something that can hopefully lead to a cure. That’s ultimately what we’re looking for.”

To find out more about upcoming JDRF events in our area, visit the JDRF Metro Detroit/South East Michigan webpage.

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New in Diabetes Technology: The OmniPod Dash

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Insulet's Omnipod Dash Tubeless Insulin Management System Receceives FDA Clearance

Insulet's Omnipod Dash Tubeless Insulin Management System Receceives FDA Clearance

It seems like nearly every day there is more great news in terms of the development of new technologies to empower people living with diabetes...the latest is from Insulet and their Omnipod Dash system, which recently received approval from the FDA.

To learn more about Omnipod Dash, visit the product FAQ page over at Insulet's website. A few key highlights that we're excited about include:

1. The same great features Omnipod users have been used to...the new Dash system is tubeless, discreet and waterproof which makes it great for pediatric patients and anyone with an active lifestyle

2. Bluetooth capabilities for sharing data to an iOS device and up to 12 people on their care team

3. Compatibility with one of the leading test strip brands on the market, Contour Next. 

The system will be slowly released to patients in 2018 prior to the widespread launch in 2019. Most major commercial insurances, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, pay for Omnipod as a durable medical equipment benefit (DME).

Healthy Living Medical Supply is a leading DME specializing in diabetes services and technologies and will be ready to provide this technology to patients when it becomes available soon!

Update on Medtronic's Guardian Connect CGM System

Healthy Living Medical Supply’s Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) Team had the opportunity to participate in a live webinar yesterday from Medtronic – the focus of the session was their new stand-alone CGM product known as the Guardian Connect CGM System. Our team has been eagerly anticipating the launch of this product since the product received FDA approval back in March.

Here are a few highlights of what we learned about the product during the webinar:

1.     The Guardian Connect transmitter connects via Bluetooth technology to iPhones (and iPod Touch devices if you can purchase one on eBay)

2.     The sensor is the same as the one used for the 670G closed loop system, but the Guardian Connect transmitter DOES NOT communicate with the 670G pump. The transmitter is labeled “GC” which differentiates it from the transmitter used with the 670G pump.

3.     The system does not have a receiver—this will be a great benefit to those patients who don’t want to haul around another piece of hardware.

4.     Android support is coming-Medtronic is targeting the end of the calendar year for Android users.

5.     The sensor features a new barrier which helps mitigate against skin irritation – this is also the smallest sensor ever for a Medtronic CGM product.

6.     Sensor wear time is up to 7 days and the system includes a one-year warranty.

7.     The system features a range of alerts, including predictive alerts which can notify of highs and lows anywhere from 10-60 minutes in advance.

8.     Patients can invite up to five care partners to view data and receive alerts via SMS and data is easily shared with providers via the Care Link system.

9.     The Guaurdian Connect CGM System providers users access to the Sugar.IQ diabetes assistant, which is a separate application on the phone. The Sugar.IQ app takes real time data from the Guardian Connect app, sync with IBM’s Watson, and then presents various insulin, food and motivational insights to the user.

Medtronic’s Guardian Connect Smart CGM system is slated to be released in early summer. The system is not approved by Medicare, but should be reimbursed by most major commercial insurances including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Alliance Plan of Michigan, Priority Health, etc.

If you are a patient and wish to learn more about the Guradian Connect Smart CGM system, visit this link.

For providers interested in learning more, visit this link.

If you would like to be contacted by Healthy Living once this system becomes available, please fill out the brief form below:

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What We’re Reading: The Health Alliance Plan of Michigan’s Balanced Living Blog

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The Health Alliance Plan of Michigan's Balanced Living is filled with tips and suggestions on increasing your wellness and leading a more active and healthy lifestyle

The Health Alliance Plan of Michigan's Balanced Living is filled with tips and suggestions on increasing your wellness and leading a more active and healthy lifestyle

One of our regular features on the Healthy Living Medical Supply Blog is our “What We’re Reading” segment where we shine the spotlight on resources that we find particularly relevant to our employees and customers. One such resource is Health Alliance Plan of Michigan’s “Balanced Living Blog,” which is routinely updated with excellent ideas and suggestions for maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. Subscribe to blog updates by visiting the site and clicking the email subscribe link. 

Below you’ll find links to four articles that we found particularly interesting, all of which relate to diabetes, which is our specialty.

Walking it Back: Reversing Prediabetes

Facing Diabetes On Her Own Terms: How One Woman Took Control of Her Life

Diabetes Doesn’t Define Me: Overcoming Type 1 at 21

How Former U-M Football Star Marc Ramirez Tackled Diabetes

Healthy Living Medical Supply is in network with Health Alliance Plan of Michigan for diabetes testing supplies, insulin pumps, insulin pump supplies, continuous glucose monitoring systems (CGM) – if you are a Health Alliance Plan of Michigan member and are looking for diabetes related supplies delivered to your doorstep with great customer care, give us a call at 866.779.8512 or send us a text message at 248.577.9903 to start the easy enrollment process.

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Michigan Medicaid Covered by Healthy Living for Diabetes Testing & Insulin Pump Supplies

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Sunset at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan (Photo via goodfreephotos.com)

Sunset at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Michigan (Photo via goodfreephotos.com)

Are you covered by Medicaid and looking for diabetes testing supplies or insulin pump supplies? At Healthy Living, we've been serving Medicaid members in Michigan and a few other states for many years. We have the know-how to make it easy for members with Medicaid to acquire the supplies they need to follow their care plans.

When you call Healthy Living, you will be served by a member of our Customer Care Team or Insulin Pump Therapy Team, depending on your needs. You’ll also find out that there are many ways to communicate with us: text, phone, chat, email…We are ready to help you!

Find out what insurance plans we accept here. If you have another insurance provider, please send us a text message at 248.577.9903 or call us at 866.779.8512 so that we can verify coverage.