Access and Adherence in Current Issue of Evidence-Based Diabetes ManagementTM, From The American Journal of Managed Care&reg

A recent split between an association representing many primary care physicians and diabetes specialists is addressed in the current issue of Evidence-Based Diabetes Management™ (EBDM™), a publication of The American Journal of Managed Care^®.

The commentary by Dr. Robert A. Gabbay, MD, PhD, FACP, editor-in-chief of EBDM™ who is senior vice president and chief medical officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, is part of an issue, “Access and Adherence,” that looks at how the basics of being treated and taking medication affect outcomes.

Gabbay leads off the issue with, “Guidance That Allows for Higher A1C Misses the Mark,” which takes issue with a March guideline revision by the American College of Physicians (ACP) that said those with type 2 diabetes can aim for glycated hemoglobin, or A1C, of between 7% or 8%.

Groups including Joslin, the American Diabetes Association, and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists all criticized the ACP decision. Gabbay further notes that the change overlooks today’s better therapies that can control blood glucose. “To me, the greatest surprise in the ACP recommendations is the lack of concern for our younger patients,” he writes. “With today’s treatments, these patients should have decades of life ahead of them.”

Other articles and commentary in the issue include:

• Original research articles discuss the effects of travel time on access to endocrinologists among children with type 1 diabetes in Florida, and the impact of a pharmacist-driven diabetes clinic on quality measures.
• David J. Dzielak, PhD, former Mississippi Medicaid executive director, discusses a public-private partnership that showed early success with population health management improve outcomes and lower costs for beneficiaries at risk of diabetes or preterm births.
• Dan Sheeran of HealthSlate discusses the untapped potential of technology in the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, which launched this month.
• Henry Anhalt, DO, of Science 37, explains how the company’s unique platform can increase diversity and address real-world questions in clinical trials for diabetes therapies, answering payer questions up front.
• The current issue features an update on the lawsuit filed against the nation’s three largest insulin manufacturers over pricing, which previously appeared online.

About The American Journal of Managed Care^®:

The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) is a peer-reviewed, MEDLINE-indexed journal that keeps readers on the forefront of health policy by publishing research relevant to industry decision makers as they work to promote the efficient delivery of high-quality care. AJMC.com is the essential website for managed care professionals, distributing industry updates daily to leading stakeholders. Other titles in the AJMC^® family include The American Journal of Accountable Care^®, and two evidence-based series, Evidence-Based Oncology^™and Evidence-Based Diabetes Management^™. These comprehensive offerings bring together stakeholder views from payers, providers, policymakers and other industry leaders in managed care. To order reprints of articles appearing in AJMC^® publications, please contact Jeff Prescott at 609-716-7777, ext. 331.

Contacts:

AJMC^® Media:

Theresa Burek, 609-716-7777

tburek@mjhassoc.com

or

Surabhi Verma

sverma@mjhassoc.com