UnitedHealthcare to cover Tandem insulin pumps in network
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UnitedHealthcare will now cover Tandem Diabetes’ insulin pumps in network, a reversal of a previous policy that limited pump choices for adults and children with diabetes.
In a press release, JDRF, which led the campaign Coverage2Control, said advocacy from more than 27,000 members of the diabetes community helped spur the UnitedHealthcare (UHC) change.
“UHC’s decision to cover Tandem Diabetes’ insulin pumps is a direct result of the type 1 diabetes community’s advocacy,” Aaron J. Kowalski, PhD, JDRF president and CEO, said in the release. “Our Coverage2Control campaign brought together thousands of type 1 diabetes champions demanding UHC give people with type 1 diabetes the freedom to choose the insulin pump that’s right for them. Today’s decision reflects the power of the collective voice of our community. We thank UnitedHealthcare for ensuring its members have access to technology they need to stay as healthy as possible until we have cures for type 1 diabetes.”
UHC had a standing policy of limiting pump choice for adults. In February 2019, UHC announced that it was no longer covering all brands of insulin pumps for children, instead extending Medtronic’s preferred position in insulin pumps, to children as young as age 7 years, according to the company. As Healio previously reported, three leading endocrinology and diabetes advocacy groups, including JDRF, called on UHC in June 2019 to reconsider their policy decision. In a joint letter, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the American Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists and the JDRF urged the company to reverse the exclusive insulin pump agreement, noting that “any agreement that limits choice in therapies, at any age, only adds to the already overwhelming burdens of life with type 1 diabetes.”
Tracey Lempner, spokesperson for UHC, told Healio that the change is designed to meet the “unique and diverse needs” of members.
“UnitedHealthcare is committed to providing our members with access to high-quality, affordable health care options,” Lempner told Healio. “Our relationship with Medtronic has delivered compelling clinical and economic evidence generated over the course of our 3-year value-based agreement, which includes providing our members with advanced diabetes technologies and patient support to improve their individual care plans. We also continue to take steps to meet the unique and diverse needs of our members with diabetes and, as a result, have expanded coverage to include Tandem t:slim X2 insulin pump.
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