Sens. Shaheen and Collins, Reps. DeGette and Bilirakis Warn Administration Against Proposal That Could Harm Diabetic Patients’ Access to Glucose Monitors, Insulin Pumps

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Susan Collins (R-ME), co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, and U.S. Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO-01) and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12), co-chairs of the U.S. House Diabetes Caucus, urged Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Mehmet Oz not to finalize a proposal the lawmakers warned could reduce and complicate patient access to continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) and durable insulin pumps. CGMs and insulin pumps help patients monitor and manage their diabetes – reducing hospitalizations, preventing life-threatening complications and improving quality of life. In the letter to Administrator Oz, Senators Shaheen and Collins and Representatives DeGette and Bilirakis express their concern that including CGMs and insulin pumps in the Medicare competitive bidding program would limit the number of device suppliers, which would reduce patient access to devices and create barriers to obtaining necessary services.

The lawmakers wrote, “As you know, diabetes is one of the most common and costliest chronic diseases among Americans. Despite the prevalence and costly nature of this disease, many Medicare beneficiaries have difficulty accessing effective tools to manage their diabetes, such as CGMs and insulin pumps, [...]. These tools are also cost-effective, as research has shown that their use has yielded billions of dollars of savings to federal health care programs, namely due to reduced hospitalization and utilization of emergency department visits. Federal policies should support access to these technologies.”

They continued, “In the CY 2026 HH PPS proposed rule, CMS proposes a new and untested payment model for CGMs and durable insulin pumps while also proposing to include these devices in the competitive bidding program. We are concerned that by shifting responsibilities for maintenance, education and training from CGM and insulin pump manufacturers to suppliers, CMS’ proposal would both decrease patient access and choice to this critical technology and hinder technological innovation.”

“We also are concerned that these proposed policies will have the unintended consequence of reducing choices for CGM or durable insulin pump beneficiaries. Suppliers would not be required to carry all types and combinations of CGMs and durable insulin pumps under this proposal, which would push beneficiaries closer to a one size fits all model that would not meet their needs,” the lawmakers went on. “Indeed, these technologies are not universally interchangeable, and each beneficiary uses a specific device based on their clinical needs and physiology after consulting with their medical provider.”

The Diabetes Caucus co-chairs concluded, “Given these concerns, we urge CMS to not finalize these proposals. As we have stated in past communications to the agency, we believe it is more appropriate for CMS to reform coverage policies for these technologies in alignment with the latest clinical evidence and support streamlined access.”

Click HERE to read the full letter.

Senator Shaheen has helped lead efforts across the aisle to lower health care costs and increase access to care for Granite Staters and Americans. As co-chairs of the U.S. Senate Diabetes Caucus, Shaheen and Collins have consistently pressed to hold insulin manufacturers, insurers and pharmacy benefit managers accountable for the skyrocketing cost of life-saving insulin. Their bipartisan Improving Needed Safeguards for Users of Lifesaving Insulin Now (INSULIN) Act would comprehensively address the soaring cost of insulin, removing barriers to care and making it more accessible for millions more Americans. The Senators have also pushed for passage of their bicameral, bipartisan Strengthening Collective Resources for Encouraging Education Needed (SCREEN) for Type 1 Diabetes Act to improve early detection and screening for type 1 diabetes.

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