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California’s Medi-Cal makes strides in diabetes epidemic
Medi-Cal managed care plans in California are making progress in the state’s costly and deadly diabetes epidemic, according to a report commissioned by the California Optometric Association.
The report also cites opportunities to improve diabetes care for patients who are at risk of losing their sight or their lives from uncontrolled diabetes, according to a press release from the association.
Over the last 2 years, the California Optometric Association and community health centers have partnered with Anthem on innovative outreach and care models to improve diabetes care for underserved Californians.
A series of “Diabetes Days” hosted by community health centers for diabetic patients served by the Anthem Blue Cross Medi-Cal plan connected members with life-saving, comprehensive diabetes screenings including eye exams, according to the release.
The report from California Health Policy Strategies reviewed Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) measures that Medi-Cal plans to report to the Department of Health Care Services.
The report found the vast majority of California’s 54 Medi-Cal plans have improved their diabetes HEDIS measures over the past 4 years.
They also ranked plans on their progress on improving key measures of diabetes treatment, which include blood pressure control, percentage of patients who received a retinal/eye exam, percentage of patients who received a blood sugar test, patients’ blood sugar levels and percentage of patients who received a kidney disease screening test.
Read the full report here.