Happy Mother's Day!
Happy Mother's Day to the toughest and most loving group of women that I've ever met!
I hope that each of you has a wonderful day...
#t1Moms #respect
Shame on United Health Care and Medtronic
United Health Care has announced that on July 1, 2016 Medtronic will "become the preferred, in-network durable medical equipment (DME) provider of insulin pumps for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Commercial members".
Below is text taken from UnitedHealthCareOnline.com. I want to encourage you to share your story in the comments below about why your pump choice matters and then share one of the below images on your social media channels while tagging Medtronic and United Health Care. Greed can not be a driving factor in how you manage your type 1 diabetes.
FIGHT BACK!
from United Health Care: "As part of our ongoing efforts to provide a better member experience, while increasing quality and lowering the overall cost of diabetes care in the United States, UnitedHealthcare has reached an agreement with Medtronic to become the preferred, in-network durable medical equipment (DME) provider of insulin pumps for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan and Commercial members, effective July 1, 2016. Medtronic is a global healthcare solutions company committed to improving the lives of people through its medical technologies, services, and solutions and has been a leader in diabetes care for more than 30 years.
The preferred relationship excludes UnitedHealthcare Sierra Health and Life Commercial members as well as all UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage members.
Our goal is to provide the opportunity for a better care experience by providing our members with access to advanced diabetes technology and comprehensive support services while learning how advanced technology can be applied to improve outcomes and reduce costs. We also aspire to nd new ways to analyze the total cost of care
for diabetes management, bring a value-based approach to diabetes care for UnitedHealthcare members and place greater focus on quality rather than the volume of care delivered.
As part of this agreement, UnitedHealthcare members with diabetes who meet the UnitedHealthcare medical policy criteria will be provided access to multiple models of Medtronic’s insulin pumps, including the MiniMed® 530G pump. The MiniMed 530G system includes safety features that pause insulin delivery when sensor glucose levels fall below a preset limit, helping the patient recover at a quicker rate.
Please note: UnitedHealthcare will continue to cover insulin pump supplies for all brands of insulin pumps that our members currently use while their insulin pumps are in- warranty and are still functioning properly. They do not need to make any immediate change to their pump and will not transition to a MiniMed pump until their pump is both out of warranty and not functioning properly.
What this means for you:
• There has been no change within our medical policy for coverage of insulin pumps; this only applies to the type of device prescribed.
• When UnitedHealthcare members need to obtain their prescribed pump, they can call Medtronic at 800-646-4633 or visit www.medtronicdiabetes.com/ preferred.
• UnitedHealthcare members who are 18 years old and younger may remain on their current insulin pump and are not required to use a MiniMed pump.
• If one of your patients is a UnitedHealthcare Sierra Health and Life Commercial member or a Medicare Advantage member, the preferred relationship does not apply. However, you may still prescribe them to a MiniMed insulin pump as you see t.
We thank you for all that you do as we strive to provide the best possible outcomes for our members with diabetes.
If you have questions, please call the number on the back of your patient’s member ID card. Thank you."
Medtronic is @MDT_Diabetes on Twitter. United is @myUHC.... Let them hear your voice!
Celebration!
50,000 Downloads!
Thank you for listening to the Juicebox Podcast and for supporting our sponsor OmniPod. I can't believe that the podcast has already reached so many people. I would like to thank each of you for subscribing, listening and for spreading the word. A special shoutout to those of you who have shared your experiences. Your candid and brave descriptions of your life with diabetes have strengthened the diabetes community and added to its advocacy and awareness. I have been honored to speak with each of you and look forward to much more in the future!
For those of you who haven't checked out the podcast.... c'mon 50,000 people can't all be wrong. Subscribe in iTunes, listen online, read a review. All you need is a browser or a podcast app (iPhone users, the app is already on your phone - just search 'Juicebox Podcast' and start listening today.
Available everywhere podcasts are found.... coming soon to the Google Play store.
Tell Starbucks How You Feel
Recently a Starbucks employee marked a cup with the words "Diabetes Here I Come". Details of the story both text and the video report are from Action News Jax.
If you are inclined to share, please leave a comment below that explains how those words make you and your family feel. I will make sure that your message arrives at the Starbucks corporate office. This is not an attempt to place blame but an opportunity to share stories to raise awareness.
from Action News Jax
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. —
Some need a pick me-up in the early mornings. Many people head to Starbucks for their dose of caffein. by: Kaitlyn Chana, Action News Jax Updated: Apr 11, 2016 - 4:54 PM
However, one customer received an unexpected comment on their coffee cup label: “DIABETES HERE I COME.”
Click to enlarge.
That's the message printed on a grande cup of white mocha served to a customer at the Palencia Starbucks.
A photo of the message on the cup was shared with Action News Jax on Facebook.
“That first word just automatically brought the picture of both sisters in my head, and I was taken aback,” said the Starbucks customer.
This customer told Action News Jax he works near the coffee shop and a fellow employee picked up coffees for their staff. His cup had the unusual message. He told Action News Jax the diabetes statement hits close to home because his two sisters suffer from type 1 diabetes.
“Just the struggles they went through and all the doctor appointments they had,” said the customer. Action News Jax took the questions to store manager, Kent Miller and showed him pictures of the cup. When asked if this was something Starbucks condones, he said, “No, we definitely don’t condone, but let me find more about this, and I will talk to my boss.”
Miller said the only thing that should be written on the label is the drink type and the name of the customer.
Action News Jax sent an email and called Starbucks corporate headquarters for a comment, and they said, “We strive to provide an inclusive and positive experience for our customers, and we're disappointed to learn of this incident. We are working directly with the customer to apologize for his experience, and with our partners (employees) to ensure this does not happen again.”
A 16-ounce white chocolate mocha has 470 calories when it’s made with 2-percent milk. The customer wrote a note on the same cup and left a message for the baristas in hopes these employees won’t judge other people. The note reads, "2 of my sisters are diabetic, so ... not funny."
“Seeing and knowing the struggle my sisters went through by third, fourth grade, it definitely struck a nerve, and I didn’t just want to let it go,” said the customer.
The customer said he doesn’t need an apology. Instead, he just wants reassurance that this won’t happen to a future customer.
Please leave your thoughts in the comment section. They can be signed or anonymous, which ever makes you most comfortable.
Parents and Caregivers Survey - $20 Amazon Gift Card
Edited 4-7-2016 12:53 pm: Due to overwhelming response (mostly Arden's Day readers) the survey is now closed.
Survey says...
Interested in participating in market research that could help improve the pump options available for pediatric users?
Are you the caregiver to a child (12 or younger) living with diabetes?
Take the survey!
Caregivers who completely finished the full survey (not the initial few questions to see if you qualify) will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!
Survey does not need to be completed in one sitting.
This survey is not affiliated with Arden's Day or the Juicebox Podcast... just thought that you may want to make $20 while helping to move D-tech forward. Best, Scott
