Medicare Part B and Medicare Part D provide coverage for diabetic services and supplies.
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MEDICARE PART B
Medicare Part B covers the services that may affect people who have diabetes as well as some preventive services for people who are at risk for diabetes.
- Diabetic Screenings for those with specific risk factors or conditions
- Diabetes Self Management Training: Health care provider must provide a written order to a certified diabetes self-management
education program. - Diabetes Supplies
- Blood sugar (glucose) testing monitors
- Blood sugar (glucose) test strips
- Lancet devices and lancets
- Flu and pneumococcal shots
- Foot exams and treatment
- Glaucoma test
- Insulin pumps
- Medical nutrition therapy
- Therapeutic shoes or inserts
MEDICARE PART D
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Medicare Part D (Prescription drug coverage) covers diabetes supplies used for injecting insulin.
- Anti-diabetic drugs for maintaining blood sugar (glucose).
- Medical Supplies for administration of insulin
- Syringes
- Needles
- Alcohol swabs
- Gauze
- Inhaled insulin devices
- Insulin
NOT COVERED BY MEDICARE
Diabetes supplies and services not covered by Medicare include the following:
- Eye exams for glasses
- Orthopedic shoes for people whose feet are intact)
- Weight loss programs
DIABETIC SHOE COVERAGE
A doctor treating the diabetes must certify that three conditions are met:
- You have diabetes.
- You are being treated under a comprehensive diabetes care plan and need therapeutic shoes and/or inserts because of diabetes.
- You have at least one of the following conditions in one or both feet:
- Partial or complete foot amputation
- Past foot ulcers
- Calluses that could lead to foot ulcers
- Nerve damage because of diabetes with signs of problems with calluses
- Poor circulation
- Deformed foot
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Medicare also requires a podiatrist or other qualified doctor prescribes the shoes and a doctor, pedorthist, orthotist, or prosthetist fits and provides the shoes.
For more information about selecting diabetic shoes see our blog post, WHAT ARE DIABETIC SHOES?
