Committee updates Medicaid language to ensure continuous glucose monitor coverage for pregnant women including gestational diabetes

The Health and Human Services Committee unanimously recommended passage of an amendment to Medicaid coverage language that explicitly adds gestational diabetes as a covered indication for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).

A presenter told the committee the change updates language in a law passed last year to ensure CGMs are covered when a physician prescribes them for pregnant women with diabetes, and adjusts the effective date to 2025. ‘‘The amendment ensures that Medicaid will cover continuous glucose monitors for pregnant women diagnosed with, with diabetes, and we've added the word gestational diabetes,’’ the presenter said.

Representative Seeball and other supporters described CGMs as an important management tool. A committee member who identified themselves as a person living with diabetes described wearing a CGM and credited it with improving their A1C: ‘‘I have a button on my arm… my a 1 c has gone from 10 down to 6.5,’’ the speaker said.

Brandy Sullivan of the Department of Community Health confirmed the state previously passed coverage language and said the new amendment will be effective July 1, 2025. ‘‘We did pass a bill last year, that mandated coverage of these devices… this new requirement that gestational diabetes be an included, disease date for coverage is effective 07/01/2025,’’ Sullivan said.

Committee members discussed prior statutory dates and technical edits; a motion to pass the amendment (LC520828S / House Bill 352) was made and the committee approved it by voice vote with no opposition.

Votes at a glance: House Bill 352 (LC520828S) — committee recommendation: do pass (unanimous).

Sources and provenance: Presentation, agency confirmation and voice vote are recorded in the committee transcript.