The fda should be done away with - just turn out the lights and let them go change fryer oil -they make choices to hurt people just because they can - no other reason
ten day libre with a ridiculous 12 hour warmup is the perfect example - while the 14 day was in Europe for years
Why would you intentionally have folks go without a CGM for 12 hours
I caught Dexcom’s CEO on TV (Mad Money?) this summer. Not a word about customers, diabetes, etc but waxed poetic about the stock price going up 50% in each of the last two years. Priorities?
Hopefully the screenshot of text from CMS concerning BGM (home Blood Glucose Monitors and related supplies) being denied when CGM is used by the Medicare patient is visible when I post this.
I found this at a link to CMS in very fine print on Dexcom’s site at the beginning of its discussion of Medicare CGM requirements. In summary, it says that if you have a CGM Medicare does not cover BGM. It makes no reference to any particular Medicare approved CGM like the G6 so it appears that should be the case for G4, G5, G6, etc.
I suspect but could not find anything contradicting this but somehow Dexcom has been supplying Medicare covered testing supplies along with my G5’s for several years and I suspect, if I ever get upgraded to the G6, I will continue to get them.
Therapeutic is the key word. That is why Medicare covered our Guardian 3 sensors for the 670G.
12 hours, huh? Geeze
Can I ask why you guys go thru insurance for test strips? I haven’t done that in years, just because its too much hassle. Since Walmart started carrying them OTC, it freed me from having to deal with ‘the system’ in order to get them. Its so nice not to fight with the system over something. Helps my blood pressure.
The original US approval last fall was for 10 - day wear and a 12-hour warmup
They had abbott make all those changes and then a year later approved the ones that were in Europe that are 14 day one hour warmup - they did it just because they could and to be nasty as hell - no other valid reason
Same reasoning behind not being able to use the android app for dex
the most bizarre decision in medical history - just to be nasty
Ouch. There’s no Android for Dex?
Because they are no cost. They are part of the monthly Dexcom ‘kit’ that includes G5 sensors, lancets and every 3 months, a new transmitter. Only cost is the random hassle with Dexcom’s customer care.
$$$$$$$$ That’s the reason
Dexcom can afford to send out free test strips considering what they charge for the system in the US. In the UK for $159 pounds, ($205 US Dollars) they give 3 sensors, supply the reader and transmitters as needed.
This may change for G6, because there is a calibration code. Medicare required test strips with G5, for calibrations, and considered it a “bundle”.
Not clear if strips will be bundled with G6 for medicare, but assume will know soon when dexcom starts shipping to medicare patients.
really,
It was using the dex app on an android phone that the fda banned and then reversed for those on medicare
Concerning future test strips for Medicare users:
“Also, on the Medicare front, as a number of you have seen, CMS recently differentiated reimbursement between Class II and Class III CGMs. And while the rate for the G6 system will be less than a Class III CGM, please keep in mind that we will ship fewer sensors and no BGM supplies for the future G6 bundle.”
This is from Kevin Sayer during the Q2 2019 earnings call.
During the Q&A later in the call, the subject of BGM came up again. My take was CMS is no longer requiring Dexcom to provide BGM supplies in the bundle. Whether or not the BGM supplies will be covered did not come up.
I do know that my daughter’s plan (individual plan) will not cover test strips if she’s on any CGM, & they include the Libre.
What absolute rubbish are they coming up with now? I just had a meeting with my Endo and the Dexcom rep. i have a G% and have been plagued, from the beginning, with periods where the Dexcom just takes a break and gives no readings for periods of between 15 mins and 3 hours or so. Then, once I enter a calibration, it sometimes back-fills those missing readings. It is especially irritating, dangerous even, when teh finger stick reading shows a low of say 50!
I was even able to demonstrate that situation at the meeting today. The rep was surprised as they have had it drummed into them that the Dexcom is almost infallible. Here’s what I plan to do; every time there is a 30 min gap in the readings, call the “Help Line” and go thru their routine. They’ll then send me a new sensor. Hopefully, if enough of us do that often enough they’ll get sick of sending out free sensors and actually fix the problem.
I did learn that Dexcom claims to have outgrown their ability to handle the volume of help calls so have subcontracted that function. (That’s the official line anyway) So folks, get on the phone and make it happen.
If the G6 turns out to be as crappy as is reported by so many users, if Medtronic gets their sensor covered by Medicare, I just might give that a try, seeing as I have a 670G already. j/k.
David, I had a Medtronic and it seemed to be about as accurate as the dexcom, and it also took a few, although not as often, unscheduled vacations. The sensor was not as easy to install but it was a little flatter so I didn’t lose many by getting caught on things. Officially, it required calibration more often but, in practice I have had to calibrate my dexcom sometimes 6 times a day. About even I’d say.
Which Dex did u need to cal 6x a day? I have very little need to calibrate my G5’s over the course of 2 years. I often go way past the 12-hour cal request.
Follow the money…
Dexcom was shocked when I asked if I could stay on my
G5. The answer, of course, was no.
I’ll bet it costs more to make that fancy inserter for the
G6-so they can bill more. I’m not happy about it.
I did a very simple work around…
I simply bought a second reader. I labeled one ‘L’ and the other ‘R’. I would have the left one going, then when the 12 hr remaining time came, I inserted a new sensor on the RIGHT, and start it with the R reader.
ZERO minutes, NO CGM coverage gap!
JD sez, I did not like the 12 coverage gap either.
I do have a 1 hr coverage gap with my new Dexcom g6 system, but that is at least more tolerable.
Gomer, JD
