Diabetes is a significant and growing public health concern, affecting more than 38 million people in the U.S. and accounting for one in every four health care dollars spent nationally. Medicaid beneficiaries experience disproportionately high rates of diabetes, with worse glycemic management outcomes and more diabetes-related complications compared to people with commercial insurance.  

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and automated insulin delivery (AID) devices are powerful diabetes management technologies that can work together to track glucose levels in real time and deliver insulin as needed. These devices are the standard of care for people with insulin-dependent diabetes. CGM and AID devices have been shown to improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs by reducing long-term diabetes-related complications and preventing life-threatening episodes that can lead to emergency department visits and hospitalizations. 

Yet, despite the proven benefit of these devices, many Medicaid members lack access to these important tools. Medicaid programs can address this gap by implementing new policies, or updating existing ones, to increase the number of beneficiaries who can obtain and effectively use CGMs and/or AID devices to improve their health and well-being.  

The CGM & AID Devices Access Accelerator, led by the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS) and supported by The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, is an 18‑month technical assistance and peer learning opportunity that will support up to seven Medicaid programs to increase access to CGMs and AID devices among members.

Selected teams will receive: 

• Technical assistance: Monthly meetings with CHCS and subject matter experts — including national clinical and policy leaders — to design and advance projects that increase access to CGM/AID devices. 

• Funding: Up to $75,000 per state/territory to support implementation of policy goals. 

• Peer learning: Connections with states that have implemented CGM/AID device policy changes. 

• Resource library: Access to an online resource library developed to support state efforts to expand CGMs/AID device access.  

• Evaluation guidance: Tailored support to assess the impact and return on investment of CGM/AID device policy changes.

This initiative builds on lessons from Accelerating Access to Continuous Glucose Monitors in Medicaid to Improve Diabetes Care, which supported seven states to design and implement strategies that increase access to CGMs in Medicaid.