• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

  • Opinion
  • Health IT
    • Behavioral Health
    • Care Coordination
    • EMR/EHR
    • Interoperability
    • Patient Engagement
    • Population Health Management
    • Revenue Cycle Management
    • Social Determinants of Health
  • Digital Health
    • AI
    • Blockchain
    • Precision Medicine
    • Telehealth
    • Wearables
  • Life Sciences
  • Investments
  • M&A
  • Value-based Care
    • Accountable Care (ACOs)
    • Medicare Advantage

DME Providers Lead to Better CGM Adherence and Lower Healthcare Costs Compared to Pharmacies

by Jasmine Pennic 03/25/2025 Leave a Comment

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print
Image by freepik

What You Should Know: 

– New research published in Clinical Diabetes, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Diabetes Association, reveals that patients receiving continuous glucose monitors (CGM) through durable medical equipment (DME) providers demonstrate significantly higher adherence and lower healthcare costs compared to those using pharmacy channels. 

– The study, titled “Impact of Continuous Glucose Monitoring Sourcing on Real-World Adherence and Healthcare Costs: A Comparative Analysis by Insurance Type,” challenges the notion that expanding CGM access through pharmacies improves patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness.

Link Between Clinical Glucose Monitor Distribution Channel and Patient Outcomes

CCS, a provider of clinical solutions and home-delivered medical supplies for those living with chronic conditions, conducted this groundbreaking research, which highlights that adding the pharmacy as a new channel for CGM distribution, alongside the established DME provider channel, may be having unintended negative consequences.

While previous studies have shown higher adherence and lower costs with DME providers, this latest research is unique in that it examined differences between commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance populations. The findings highlight that the channel decision for medical supply distribution significantly impacts outcomes and healthcare expenditures.

Key findings from the research include:

  • Improved Adherence: Patients receiving CGM supplies through the DME channel demonstrated greater adherence to their prescribed therapy. At 12 months:
    • Medicare/Medicare Advantage patients: 78% adherence with DME vs. 64% with pharmacy.
    • Commercially insured patients: 60% adherence with DME vs. 48% with pharmacy.
  • Lower Total Costs of Care: Among Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients, total costs of care were 35% lower for those using DME providers.
    • At 12 months, patients leveraging the DME channel cost approximately $3,875 less than pharmacy users ($11,154 vs. $15,029).
  • Reduced Healthcare Utilization: Commercially insured patients using the DME channel had significantly fewer emergency room (ER) and inpatient (IP) days than those utilizing the pharmacy channel (8 days vs. 11 days).

“This research presents an opportunity to align health plan policies with provider preferences based on measurable outcomes. The data shows patients utilizing DME providers experience higher adherence rates, reduced healthcare costs, and fewer emergency interventions compared to pharmacy channels,” said Dr. Arti Masturzo, Chief Medical Officer at CCS. “By focusing on these evidence-based results, we can work toward building a healthcare system where patients receive better diabetes management support while reducing costs for the entire system.”

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email
  • Print

Tagged With: Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), Diabetes Management

Tap Native

Get in-depth healthcare technology analysis and commentary delivered straight to your email weekly

Reader Interactions

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to HIT Consultant

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly.

Submit a Tip or Pitch

Featured Interview

Reach7 Diabetes Studios Founder Chun Yong on Reimagining Chronic Care with a Concierge Medical Model

Most-Read

Epic Launches Comet: A New AI Platform to Predict Patient Health Journeys

Epic Launches Comet: A New AI Platform to Predict Patient Health Journeys

Preparing for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: How Digitization Can Streamline Medicaid Eligibility & Social Care Delivery

Preparing for the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’: How Digitization Can Streamline Medicaid Eligibility & Social Care Delivery

Evernorth Health Services Invests $3.5B in Shields Health Solutions

Evernorth Health Services Invests $3.5B in Shields Health Solutions

KLAS Report: Oracle Health Faces Customer Losses and Declining Satisfaction

KLAS Report: Oracle Health Faces Customer Losses and Declining Satisfaction

Tempus AI Acquires Digital Pathology Leader Paige for $81.25M

M&A:Tempus AI Acquires Digital Pathology Leader Paige for $81.25M

Mira Launches Ultra4™, the First At-Home Hormone Monitor with Lab-Quality Insights

Femtech: Mira Launches Ultra4™, the First At-Home Hormone Monitor with Lab-Quality Insights

How Healthcare CIOs Can Solve the Unstructured Data Crisis and Reduce Storage Costs

How Healthcare CIOs Can Solve the Unstructured Data Crisis and Reduce Storage Costs

Healthcare C-Suite Acknowledges AI Potential but Lacks Trust

Sage Growth Partners Report: Healthcare C-Suite Acknowledges AI Potential but Lacks Trust

EVERSANA and Waltz Health Merge to Redefine Pharmaceutical Commercialization

EVERSANA and Waltz Health Merge to Redefine Pharmaceutical Commercialization

Advancing Diabetes Care: Combating Burnout and Harnessing Technology

Advancing Diabetes Care: Combating Burnout and Harnessing Technology

Secondary Sidebar

Footer

Company

  • About Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Reprints and Permissions
  • Submit An Op-Ed
  • Contact
  • Subscribe

Editorial Coverage

  • Opinion
  • Health IT
    • Care Coordination
    • EMR/EHR
    • Interoperability
    • Population Health Management
    • Revenue Cycle Management
  • Digital Health
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Blockchain Tech
    • Precision Medicine
    • Telehealth
    • Wearables
  • Startups
  • Value-Based Care
    • Accountable Care
    • Medicare Advantage

Connect

Subscribe to HIT Consultant Media

Latest insightful articles delivered straight to your inbox weekly

Copyright © 2025. HIT Consultant Media. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy |