UHC Grants Medicare Advantage Member Access to CGM Through Pharmacy POS

Effective January 1, 2023, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is making selected continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices and sensors available to Medicare Advantage members at the pharmacy point-of-sale (POS). The systems affected by this change in policy include the Dexcom G6 as well as the FreeStyle Libre 2 and 14-day versions. CGMs were previously only available to UHC Medicare Advantage members through national durable medical equipment (DME) vendors. While availability through DME vendors will remain in place, the plan sought to improve access to CGMs for members by expanding to the pharmacy POS. Managed care decision makers should take note of this change in policy as an example of how national payers are leveraging the pharmacy channel as a means of enhancing coverage and member access to beneficial diabetes technologies.