HLMS Customer Service

Healthy Living Holiday Hours

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We hope your holiday preparations and festivities have been wonderful so far! We have a busy couple of weeks coming up with lots to celebrate! We want to let you know about Healthy Living’s hours for the rest of the year to make it as easy as possible to reach us, and so you can plan ahead (and make sure you have all the supplies you need on hand).

  • Friday, 12/22: 8:30 am – 6 pm (Regular Hours)
  • Saturday, 12/23 – Monday, 12/25: Closed
  • Tuesday, 12/26 – Friday, 12/29: 8:30 am – 6 pm (Regular Hours)
  • Saturday, 12/30 – Monday, 1/1: Closed
  • Tuesday, 1/2/2018: Regular Hours Resume (8:30 am – 6 pm on weekdays & 9 am – 3 pm on Saturdays)

Stay warm and we’ll talk to you soon!

We love to help!

Are You Ready for CGM?

A continuous glucose monitor is a small wearable device system that tracks your glucose throughout the day and night, notifying you of highs and lows so you can take action when needed. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) helps many people with diabetes obtain greater insight into what is happening with their blood sugar levels and trends.

Benefits of CGM  

  • The CGM system monitors blood glucose levels in the interstitial tissue every five minutes, offering much more information than four to eight finger sticks per day.
  • CGM is very useful when you are struggling with nighttime lows, providing alarms and alerts.
  • Continuous glucose monitoring is great for pediatrics because their parents and caregivers can remotely monitor the CGM data from their smartphones.
  • Both Medtronic and Dexcom sensors and transmitters are water-resistant, if not waterproof. They are both relatively small and discreet to wear.

CGM & Insurance Coverage

  • Most commercial insurances cover CGM, and the end of the year is a good time to consider CGM since at this time deductibles are often satisfied.
  • Most insurances require a prior authorization on file, so it is essential that patients meet with their endocrinologist to discuss CGM. This is a good first step for obtaining a CGM system. 
  • Currently, no Michigan Medicaid plans consistently approve CGM, and plans will require a pre-authorization if the CGM is covered.

Starting with CGM

  • It is easy to begin using CGM, and you don’t have to commit to an insulin pump. Many patients using multiple daily injections (MDI) report that they get tighter blood glucose through the combination of MDI and CGM.
  • From start to finish, a CGM enrollment will take commercial members roughly 1-14 days and Medicaid members 2-4 weeks.

Get in Touch

Healthy Living’s Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team can help guide you through the process of starting with CGM and will work with your insurance company. You can reach us at 866.779.8512 (Option 2). Learn more about CGM on our website.

We love to help!

Shifting Customer Care from Good to Excellent and Beyond

Newest quote on our office walls.

Newest quote on our office walls.

The Healthy Living Customer Care Team recently read and responded as a group to an article, Moving Your Call Center’s Customer Service from Good to Excellent. Exercises like this are part of Healthy Living’s commitment to continuous growth, especially in the area of customer service. This also relates to three of our company’s Core Values:

  • Get better every day
  • Pursue ongoing learning
  • Build a positive team

We know that our business does not exist without our customers and members, so it is of utmost importance to keep them happy and satisfied with superior service and unexpectedly positive care. We want our customers to know that we appreciate their business and never take them for granted.

This article explains that there are eight essential customer service skills needed for delivering superior customer service:

  1. Greeting
  2. Active listening
  3. Communication skills
  4. Diffuse anger
  5. Empathy
  6. Team building
  7. Ability to apologize/recover (when necessary)
  8. Resolution

We agree with the author that “it is our actions, words, promises, and commitment” that create an exceptional and memorable customer experience, and that is our goal and intent with every customer interaction, every day.

We love to help!

Sherece Is Our Final 2017 Healthy Living Player of the Week!

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Congratulations on receiving Player of the Week recognition for the second year, Sherece! Rickelle nominated Sherece and shared these thoughts:

“She works really hard with the Customer Service Team and also helps us in the Pharmacy! Sherece is a very awesome person and a hardworking individual with such a bright personality! She is greatly appreciated for her hard work and dedication, and this is my Thank You to her for all of her help!”

We all love working with Sherece, and it’s a joy to be on a team with her here at Healthy Living!!

We love to help!

Six Questions to Consider When Choosing Your Diabetes Supply Provider

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When you’re getting ready to choose a diabetes supply provider and doing your research, think about some of these questions to help you make an educated decision.

6 Questions to Consider When Choosing Your Diabetes Supply Provider:

1. Will you spend time on hold when calling in?

It is rare to be on hold longer than 15 seconds waiting to speak with a Healthy Living customer care agent.

2. Will you speak with an agent who is competent about the available products?

We frequently engage our team in all forms of learning experiences about the products we provide to our members. Our team has a deep level of knowledge regarding the products and services that we provide and support.

3. Does the company understand that you are busy?

Healthy Living gets it that most people are really on the go so we offer many ways to reach us and make it easy to approve your refills (phone, text, or email). We also offer web chat.

4. How do they take customer feedback?

We routinely measure how we're doing in the area of customer service by using the Net Promoter Score benchmark and survey. In fact, if you go to our website right now (myhlms.com), there is a survey in process and it will pop up on the home page. Customers may also leave feedback at any time via our Contact page. 

5. What do others say?

Healthy Living Medical Supply and many other suppliers are on social media. Search Twitter for the names of the companies you are considering for your supply needs -- what kind of feedback have they received, and can you find complaints or praise about the company? Search Google and read the company’s reviews. Check their Facebook page as well for customer feedback.

6. Do they have banker’s hours?

Many companies in the diabetes supply business offer hours that are not especially convenient for the busy lives that we all lead. Healthy Living is open until 6 pm each weekday and offers weekend service from 9 am – 3 pm on Saturdays as well. Our goal is to be responsive to the needs of our customers so that they never run out of their critical diabetes supplies.

Get in touch with Healthy Living at 866.779.8512 (phone), 248.577.9903 (text), or via webchat at myhlms.com. We are ready to help!

Are You Ready for an Insulin Pump?

Insulin Pump (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development)

Insulin Pump (Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development)

I put my head together with the Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team, George and Autumn, to help you understand the signs that it might be a good time to start using an insulin pump, the benefits of insulin pump therapy, and how to get started.

4 Signals That Adding a Pump to Your Diabetes Treatment Plan May Be Helpful:

  1. You’re tired of multiple daily injections
  2. Your blood glucose levels are fluctuating
  3. You’re experiencing insulin resistance due to frequent injections
  4. You desire better control of your diabetes

5 Benefits of Using an Insulin Pump:

  1. Fewer insulin injections
  2. More predictable and precise insulin delivery
  3. Fewer high and low spikes in blood sugar
  4. Only one type of insulin necessary
  5. Overall improvement in quality of life and a more flexible lifetstyle

Getting Started:

You can contact our Insulin Pump Therapy Team to find out more at 866.779.8512, Option 2 (phone) and 248.577.9903 (text). They will help you navigate the process of obtaining an insulin pump and answer your questions. For example, depending on your insurance type, authorization may be required, and some documentation may be needed, including a prescription, clinical notes from recent office visits, blood glucose logs, lab work, and proof of diabetes education. (Depending on your insurance plan, the process can take several weeks to complete.) We will also recommend that you have a conversation with your physician to discuss insulin pump therapy and which pump is best for you. 

On our Insulin Pump Therapy webpage, you can learn more about the three major pumps that we carry from OmniPod, Tandem, and Medtronic, as well as insurance coverage and life with an insulin pump.

Marissa Brings New Energy to Our Customer Care Team

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Welcome Marissa! One of our two newest employees, Marissa has been with Healthy Living for a little over a month. I had a great conversation with her recently, and here is the some of the scoop on this wonderful gal.

Marissa is a Customer Care Representative. She trained with mentors Christina and Amanda – there were online components to the training and the main focus was a goal-oriented, hands-on approach. She has always wanted to work in the City, and our headquarters is in Detroit. She says that downtown is an “awesome atmosphere” and “there is a lot of optimism in Detroit and here [Healthy Living].” Marissa’s favorite Detroit discovery so far has been Avalon Bakery & Café on Woodward.

For three and a half years before this, Marissa worked as a server. She is working toward becoming a wildlife vet with the (amazing) goal of starting a wildlife sanctuary. Marissa has a special place in her heart for the wellbeing of farm animals. She also loves to work out and is small but strong!

Insulin Pump Therapy Blog Round-Up

Over the last year or so of writing the Healthy Living blog, a topic that we continue to focus on is insulin pump therapy. There are so many benefits to using an insulin pump and so many questions about how to get started. Here is a round-up of some of our most helpful past blogs about insulin pump therapy (with links):

Healthy Living works with many insurance companies in Michigan and throughout the country to provide insulin pumps and pump supplies, including Medicare. If you have any questions about getting started with insulin pumps or CGM, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team at 866.779.8512, Option 2 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text)

Net Promoter Score Survey in Process with Feedback Starting Strong

Visit myhlms.com to complete our Net Promoter Score survey.

Visit myhlms.com to complete our Net Promoter Score survey.

Healthy Living periodically surveys our customers to monitor our Net Promoter Score (NPS), a measure of customer satisfaction and loyalty. We have an active survey in process again this year on the home page of our website, and we are also collecting responses via phone, text message, and web chat. This is the third time in a few years that we have sought this kind of quantitative feedback.

The survey is based on a scale of 0-10 (with 10 being best) and asks one question: How likely are you to recommend Healthy Living to a friend or co-worker? There is an opportunity to give written comment as well. Based on the current round of responses, we currently have a Net Promoter Score of 66. Over the last 30 days, we have had 69 customers submit responses to the survey on our website and on the phone. Fifty-four of these customers gave us a 9 or a 10.

As we have shared on our blog in the past, it is our promise to our customers, health plan partners, and provider partners that when you contact Healthy Living, the customer care agent will be friendly and warm, knowledgeable about the products and disease, and will solve any issues you might be experiencing.

You can visit our website at myhlms.com to complete the brief, one-question survey. Or, you can submit your response directly to an agent the next time you call, chat on our website, or text. We look forward to hearing from you – thank you for helping us continually improve.

Insulin Pumps & Medicare: Getting Rolling with Healthy Living

Family enjoying a beautiful day! (Thinkstockphotos.com)

Family enjoying a beautiful day! (Thinkstockphotos.com)

One of our specialties at Healthy Living is helping patients get up and running with insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors while working closely with their physicians and insurance providers. We are a Medicare insulin pump supplier and our Insulin Pump Therapy Team frequently serves Medicare members from Michigan and around the country.

When Medicare beneficiaries contact our Insulin Pump Therapy Team, George and Autumn are ready to answer questions and get the ball rolling. The first thing that they do is begin insurance verification and help patients understand the necessary steps for obtaining Medicare’s approval for a new pump. There are certain lab results and documentation that need to be collected in order to confirm patients qualify for the insulin pump per Medicare guidelines.

After approval, when Healthy Living supplies Medicare insulin pumps, they begin as a rental, and the patient may be responsible for a monthly copay depending on supplemental insurance coverage. After 13 months, the pump belongs to the user and it remains under warranty from the manufacturer for four years. Healthy Living continues to provide insulin pump supplies, with the patient approving the refill order monthly via text, phone call, or email.

Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for Medicare members to obtain insulin pumps to improve their personal diabetes management and simplify their lives. Reach us with any questions at 866.779.8512 (phone) or 248.577.9903 (text).

Tandem t:slim X2 & Dexcom G5 CGM Have Teamed Up!

Playing in the backyard (thinkstock.com)

Playing in the backyard (thinkstock.com)

A new insulin pump & CGM duo has been FDA approved. The t:slim X2 Insulin Pump is now compatible with the Dexcom G5 Mobile CGM! Tandem is currently sending software updates to existing t:slim X2 Pump users who want to add the CGM feature from home using their personal computer.

We are ready to take questions about this update and process any orders. Call us at 866.779.8512 (Option 2) to reach our Insulin Pump Therapy Team for knowledgeable service.

New Saturday Hours Starting This Weekend!

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As a company focused on making things as easy as possible for our customers, we want to be responsive to their needs and continually improve our service. Our new Saturday hours begin on August 26. We will be open from 9 am – 2 pm EST. We are looking forward to serving you during this time!

Saturday hours are starting on a trial basis, and during this time, staffing will be limited. Please be patient if you call us and don't reach an agent as quickly as you normally would. Texting us or web chatting are great options as well for the weekend! Here is our contact information with all of the great ways to reach us:

CONTACT US

Text: 248.577.9903

Chat: myhlms.com

Phone: 866.779.8512

Fax: 866.779.8511

At Healthy Living, we realize that diabetes is a complex disease, and that is one of the big reasons we have expanded our hours to be available on the weekend. Whether it’s enrolling, placing a new order, checking on a prescription or order status, or another question or concern, we are prepared to help. Since many doctors’ offices and insurance plans are only open on weekdays, we may not be able to contact them on your behalf during Saturday hours. Please know that we will do our best to help in any way possible within our means.

We’re looking forward to working with you soon!

Rickelle Keeps Things Super Friendly in the Pharmacy

Rickelle in the Healthy Living Pharmacy (photo by Jennifer O'Donnell)

Rickelle in the Healthy Living Pharmacy (photo by Jennifer O'Donnell)

Meet Rickelle! Rickelle is Healthy Living’s newest Pharmacy Technician, and she has been working here for about seven months. She mostly works with our inhalation patients, including checking in with them regularly to see if they need refills on their supplies. Rickelle also works with new pharmacy patients to help them begin receiving prescriptions from Healthy Living Pharmacy, ensuring that each new patient has a smooth and successful transition.

Rickelle believes that it is extremely important to build relationships with her patients, and it shows. She makes each conversation and interaction with her patients memorable, pleasant, and cheerful. This wonderful woman is very caring and will always go the extra mile for Healthy Living patients to make them feel comfortable and valued.

Describing the philosophy of the Healthy Living Pharmacy team, Rickelle says, “The most important thing for the patients to know is that we care about their privacy and convenience, and we work to save them a trip to the pharmacy by delivering their package to their doorstep, free of delivery charges.” She also explains that she and the pharmacy team create easy transitions for pharmacy transfers and, “For any of our patients who need refills, we will contact the doctor for them.”

Outside of work, Rickelle loves spending time with her one-year-old daughter, Serenity, and her six-year-old son, Jamal. Summer is a wonderful time for Rickelle and her family because they love getting outside and playing at the park! On Sundays, Rickelle and her kids devote their time to church and family.

Rickelle explained, “What I like most about working at Healthy Living is that everyone is all about teamwork and they're all friendly! They are very serious about their work and also making sure that patients are satisfied at the end of the day.”

We are so thankful that Rickelle is part of our team!

Best of CGM – Essential Info from Our Most Helpful CGM Blogs

Dexcom & Medtronic CGM Systems (Photo by Emily Lewis)

Dexcom & Medtronic CGM Systems (Photo by Emily Lewis)

If you are living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) can help you make more informed treatment decisions that can lead to better glycemic control. Learn more about CGM through three of our most valuable blogs from the last year.

Blog 1: Try CGM for More Insights & Tighter Diabetes Monitoring

This article covers the basics and answers questions like:

  • Why is CGM so helpful?
  • How does CGM work?
  • How do insulin pumps and CGM work together?
  • Who can benefit from CGM?
  • How does Healthy Living help you get started with CGM?

Blog 2: The Top 11 Questions about CGM & What You Need to Know

This blog covers these more detailed questions:

  1. What information will I get from Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM)?
  2. Can I set a safe range for my blood glucose readings?
  3. Do I still have to test my blood sugar when I am using CGM?
  4. What parts make up a CGM system?
  5. Do I need an insulin pump to use CGM?
  6. What types of CGM systems are available right now?
  7. How long can I wear CGM sensors before I need to change them?
  8. Can I use the same insertion site for my insulin pump and CGM sensors?
  9. Can parents and other care team members access a patient’s CGM data?
  10. Can I view CGM data on a smartwatch?
  11. Is CGM covered by insurance?

Blog 3: Apple Watch’s Non-Invasive Glucose Tracker: Said to Become the "Holy Grail" in Diabetes

This blog describes what we currently know about the process and progress Apple is making in creating a continuous blood glucose sensor that does not break the skin to pair with the Apple Watch.

We love to help.

You can reach our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team for more information via phone call at 866.779.8512 (Option 2) or text message at 248.577.9903.

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

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.

Omnipod Insulin Pumps Wow with Many Unique Benefits

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Image courtesy of Wikipedia Commons

Many people have come to know the benefits of the Omnipod. This community of “Podders” appreciate many really awesome features that make the Omnipod tubeless insulin pump different.

Waterproof + No Disconnect

The Omnipod is waterproof (and sweat-proof), for showering, bathing, swimming, surfing, or dancing in the rain. Because of this, there is never a need to disconnect from the pump. Omnipod’s waterproof qualities also mean that it’s a great pump for active people – adults and kids alike! This pump truly offers continuous insulin delivery with three days of nonstop insulin with no need to disconnect.

Tubeless Convenience

The small, lightweight (weights just 25 grams with an empty reservoir) Omnipod insulin pumps are tubeless, and they can attach to your body at any place where you could inject insulin. This means you can be as discreet as you want to be with your pump insertion site. Plus, there are no tubes to tangle!

Easy to Use

With the Omnipod, you will not be tied to an injection schedule or tethered to an insulin pump. The system is made up of two parts: the tubeless Pod and the Personal Diabetes Manager (PDM), kept nearby to wirelessly program insulin delivery. The PDM has a built-in FreeStyle blood glucose monitor, and the Omnipod can be used with any CGM system.

It has an uncomplicated needle insertion process – the cannula inserts hands-free, and you never have to see the needle. The Omnipod is cleared for people of all ages who have diabetes and use insulin…including children and teens.

Healthy Living Knows the Omnipod System

Matt Montagne, our VP of Strategy & Innovation at Healthy Living shared, “The Omnipod solution is a great option for those people with an active lifestyle who want an easy-to-use and reliable system. Healthy Living has been providing this solution to members for many years – we know it well and appreciate its many benefits!”

Reach out to our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team for more information, or to start the process of obtaining an Omnipod pump. They will verify your insurance to find out if it’s covered for you. Call 866.779.8512 (Option 2), text us at 248.577.9903, or chat with us at myhlms.com.

V-Go Anywhere with Your Insulin Delivery

Healthy Living meeting with the V-Go rep.

Healthy Living meeting with the V-Go rep.

“It is easy, discreet, always there.”

This past week, Healthy Living employees had the opportunity to hear from a few company representatives about the V-Go product. V-Go has been around since 2012, however not many providers and patients are aware of its capabilities for improving patient adherence and outcomes. The company representatives gave us a better understanding of the V-Go system so we can more effectively support customers considering V-Go as a treatment and therapy option.

Informative Past Post about V-Go

A few weeks back, Emily wrote about the V-Go on our blog and since then we have been growing our knowledge on this new technology daily. According to Emily’s post, the V-Go provides a steady rate of insulin 24 hours a day (basal). It allows patients to give themselves a dose of insulin with snacks and during mealtimes (bolus). 

Facts about V-Go

The V-Go is for adult patients and despite the confusion, the V-Go is not an insulin pump. For individuals who are constantly on the go and do not want the bother of multiple daily injections, the V-Go may be an excellent option. The V-Go allows the user to load insulin into the device for a rapid-onset dose of insulin. The device is wearable, discreet, and disposable, however it does need to be changed every 24 hours with a new, insulin-filled, V-Go device. The V-Go is extremely versatile as it can be worn when showering and sleeping.

How Can I Start V-Go?!

Even though the V-Go is not known to many people, it can be a positive substitute for other therapies and injections. Here at Healthy Living, we can verify your insurance and collect all of the necessary documentation needed to receive the V-Go as a medical or pharmacy benefit. There is a process to apply for the V-Go, and the coverage is dependent on your insurance company. With most commercial plans that Healthy Living Medical Supply works with, just a prescription is required from your doctor. However, some plans do require authorization. For plans that need authorization, criteria may include a patient’s qualifying blood work and lab work, tracked by the patient and the doctor. The authorization process takes about two weeks, however the length of time depends on the type of insurance.

What Our Fabulous Reps Say about the V-Go

George K., one of Healthy Living’s customer care representatives, sat down with me to chat about his experience with setting customers up with the V-Go. He said that he has seen an increased interest in the product, and customers who do choose the V-Go usually tend to stay with it.

Healthy Living’s Meeting with V-Go Company Representatives

Some studies have shown that multiple daily injections create challenges for patient adherence. Kris Euler, the V-Go company representative who spoke with Healthy Living employees said, “75% of people do not inject insulin away from home - V-Go increases the chance for people to perform their shots while they are outside of their home." With V-Go, the patient can receive their insulin hassle-free with a simple click of a button. It is known for its overall ease of use.

Further Questions and Information

If you have any other questions about the V-Go and all its benefits, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Care team at Healthy Living at (866)779-8512. We strive to provide you with the highest standard of service and want to increase your knowledge about different therapy options to help you manage your diabetes the best way possible.

 

Replay: Meet the Glucagon App - A Place to Learn & Prepare

A view of the Lilly Glucagon app in the App Store.

A view of the Lilly Glucagon app in the App Store.

Lilly Glucagon is designed to treat patients with diabetes and severe hypoglycemia. Do you have a Glucagon kit at home, and do you and your loved ones know how to use it?

You can get a white teaching kit from Lilly by calling (800)LILLY-RX. And to learn more, you could try the mightily helpful Glucagon phone app, simply called “Glucagon.” You can use this app to go through a practice simulation of using Glucagon in an emergency, including how to mix (swirl) the powder and liquid and where to inject (thigh, arm, or buttocks).

Most importantly, there is a special section with instructions for an actual emergency, with animated pictures and audio directions.

The Glucagon app also has a section about “My Kit Information” to help you track where you are keeping your kit(s) in the house and when they expire. There is a function to set reminders to make sure you update your Glucagon kit before passing the expiration date.

In the app's content, you can learn more about this critical emergency treatment tool, including:

  • When it's appropriate to use Glucagon
  • Contraindications and precautions
  • Details about severe low blood sugar
  • Glucagon tips
  • Other helpful diabetes links

Glucagon, Scripts, and Your Insurance

Glucagon is covered by most insurance companies, but it's different for each. It also requires a doctor's prescription. If you are interested in obtaining a Glucagon kit, call Healthy Living Pharmacy at (866)779-8512 (Option 4). Our pharmacy team can help you get set up, including calling the doctor to request a prescription on your behalf.  You can also send us your written prescription, or we can transfer your script from another pharmacy if that would be helpful to you.

Healthy Living’s Scoop on Insulin Pumps & Medicare

Qualifying for an Insulin Pump with Medicare

If you’re thinking about an insulin pump, start by talking to your doctor to see if you’re a candidate. Healthy Living can walk you through the next steps, including what you’ll need to qualify per Medicare guidelines. People with Type 1 & Type 2 diabetes both can get pumps if they qualify using this criteria:

  • Obtaining qualifying lab results – C-Peptide & fasting glucose, tested on the same day at the same time
  • Currently testing blood glucose 4 times/day
  • Using Multiple Daily Injections
  • Having gone through a comprehensive diabetes education program

Note: If your labs don’t qualify initially, we suggest that you discuss your options with your doctor.

How Medicare Bills for Pumps  

Insulin pumps bill as a rental through Medicare for 13 months. The pump is considered your property after 13 months have passed. Medicare will cover 80% of the insulin pump for qualifying members. If you have secondary insurance, we will verify that insurance to find out if they will cover the remaining 20% of the cost.

The Process for Starting on an Insulin Pump with Medicare & Healthy Living

The Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team will work closely with you to guide you through completing your qualifying criteria as well as verifying your insurance to give you estimated out-of-pocket costs for the pump.

Once these pieces are in place and you are ready to order an insulin pump, we will ask you to fill out two Medicare forms: The Assignment of Benefits form and the Rental Agreement. These forms give us permission to bill Medicare on your behalf.

Contact our Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team to find out which pumps are available. Once you are on an insulin pump, if your insurance changes or you discontinue using the pump for any reason, please notify us.

For Medicare Insulin Pump Owners

The 13-month rental period is now over and you now own your insulin pump. Your pump has a 4-year warranty offered by the manufacturer. Under Medicare guidelines, patients are eligible for a new pump every 5 years, but exceptions can be made if the 4-year warranty has expired and your pump is malfunctioning.

Contact the Healthy Living Insulin Pump & CGM Therapy Team to find out when you are eligible for a new pump, for help getting started with an insulin pump, or to learn more about pumps or CGM. You can reach them at (866)779-8512 (Option 2).

Replay: Text me! The Benefits of Refill Reminders for Ease & Adherence

We know that our members can’t remain adherent without having their prescribed supplies and medications in hand. A refill reminder system can make a difference for many people, helping them stay on top of their health and compliant with doctors’ orders. At Healthy Living, once a customer enrolls and signs up for reminders, a text or phone call recording is sent every 30 to 90 days, about three days before the necessary reorder date to keep the patient on track with necessary supplies and medications.

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Response Rates Are Higher with Reminder Texts

The text reminder option has boosted adherence for Healthy Living customers. We have found that people reorder more readily and frequently via text. For every 100 outbound reminder texts, the Healthy Living customer service team hears back and ships orders for about 70 patients. In comparison, for customers receiving reminder phone calls, only about 30% of patients either confirm their reorder at the moment of the call or by calling back later. Text message reminders really help Healthy Living patients stay on top of their ongoing diabetes maintenance and health.

Adherence Isn’t Easy

In their Global Research Report, Vision & Reality (9th Edition) , Capgemini Consulting researched and found that patient adherence levels drop over the course of care, from 69% of patients filling their first prescription to 43% of patients continuing their treatment as prescribed after six months.

Capgemini defines ‘patient adherence’ as the extent to which a patient follows a prescribed treatment regimen, including taking a drug as prescribed and following physician advice. They identified these patient-related factors as setbacks to compliance:

·       Forgetfulness and attitude

·       Inadequate knowledge of disease and treatment

·       Perceptions of diagnosis and health risks associated with disease and treatment

·       Misunderstanding of instructions and follow-up routing

Can't Help but Love the Text Reminders

Healthy Living is using this study and similar information to help design processes to improve the entire patient experience. Here are some of the comments we have recently received from customers:

  • "Absolutely love that you text me when it’s time to order.  I'm a terrible procrastinator and have often run out of supplies in the past.  The text system is so easy I now always have my supplies. Thank you!"
  • “I love that Healthy Living texts me before I know that I need diabetic supplies for my daughter."
  • “Super friendly service. I've been better about taking care of myself since you've been sending me my supplies. Thank you.”
  • “I really like ordering via text message. I have nothing but positive things to say about Healthy Living. I am so glad to have found you.”

We are excited that we have found a new way to help Healthy Living Medical Supply customers stay healthier!