November is American Diabetes Month. Twenty four million adults and children in the United States suffer from diabetes. Complications from diabetes can include increased risk of heart disease, blindness, glaucoma, nerve damage, and kidney damage. However, detection and treatment of diabetes may prevent or delay many of these complications.
What Can You Do? As a health care professional who provides care to patients with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your patients by educating them about their risk factors and encouraging them to take advantage of Medicare-covered diabetes-detection and treatment services. For More Information CMS has developed several educational products related to Medicare-covered diabetes-related services, including: o The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers, and Other Health Care Professionals ~ this recently revised comprehensive resource provides coverage and coding information on the array of preventive services and screenings that Medicare covers, including diabetes and glaucoma screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutritional therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf> o Diabetes-Related Services Brochure ~ This recently updated brochure provides health care professionals with an overview of Medicare's coverage of diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/DiabetesSvcs.pdf <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/DiabetesSvcs.pdf> o Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services ~ this double-sided chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services, including diabetes and glaucoma screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutritional therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.p df <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1. pdf> o The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page ~ provides descriptions and ordering information for Medicare Learning Network (MLN) preventive services educational products and resources for health care professionals and their staff. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp> o Glaucoma Screening brochure ~ this recently updated brochure provides information on coverage for Medicare-covered glaucoma screenings, including the dilated eye examination. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/expanded_benefits.pdf <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/expanded_benefits.pdf> Information for your use and materials for consumers and health professionals developed by the National Diabetes Education Program are available at www.yourdiabetesinfo.org <http://www.yourdiabetesinfo.org/> . For more information about American Diabetes Month, please visit the American Diabetes Association website at http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/americandiabet esmonth.jsp# <http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/americandiabe tesmonth.jsp> . ________________________________________________________________________ _____________ Flu Season is upon us! CMS encourages providers to begin taking advantage of each office visit to encourage your patients with Medicare to get seasonal flu shots. Flu shots are their best defense against combating flu this season. And don't forget-health care workers also need to protect themselves. Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug. For more information about Medicare's coverage of the seasonal influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp on the CMS website. For information on Medicare policies related to H1N1 influenza, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 on the CMS website. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------- Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. 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