Health Insurance Coverage for Implanted Cardiovascular and Diabetic Devices
Disciplines
Health Economics
Abstract (300 words maximum)
With increased rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the United States there has been growing popularity in cardiac implanted and diabetic implanted monitoring devices. Incorporating these devices into a person’s life can help with the quality of life for people who have experienced a cardiac or diabetic event. Medicare may cover implantable cardioverter defibrillators if the patient is diagnosed with heart failure, but coverage depends on whether the patient goes to an inpatient or outpatient facility. Continuous glucose monitors are also covered by Medicare for diabetic patients if the doctor says they meet all the requirements. This study aims to examine insurance coverage for implanted devices used in diabetic and cardiac patients, as these devices significantly enhance monitoring of both conditions. To address the question, we first review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved devices list and summarize the quantity and category of relevant digital devices approved during a five-year period (2019-2024). We then review journals, articles, and websites to assess the extent to which these devices are covered by health insurance. We analyze the coverage by insurance type for each category of device and discuss how device attributes, in conjunction with the targeted conditions, influence the coverage. Our findings would help better understand insurance coverage policies and identify gaps in coverage for commonly used implanted devices.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
CCOB - Economics, Finance & Quantitative Analysis
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
WeiWei Chen
Health Insurance Coverage for Implanted Cardiovascular and Diabetic Devices
With increased rates of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the United States there has been growing popularity in cardiac implanted and diabetic implanted monitoring devices. Incorporating these devices into a person’s life can help with the quality of life for people who have experienced a cardiac or diabetic event. Medicare may cover implantable cardioverter defibrillators if the patient is diagnosed with heart failure, but coverage depends on whether the patient goes to an inpatient or outpatient facility. Continuous glucose monitors are also covered by Medicare for diabetic patients if the doctor says they meet all the requirements. This study aims to examine insurance coverage for implanted devices used in diabetic and cardiac patients, as these devices significantly enhance monitoring of both conditions. To address the question, we first review the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved devices list and summarize the quantity and category of relevant digital devices approved during a five-year period (2019-2024). We then review journals, articles, and websites to assess the extent to which these devices are covered by health insurance. We analyze the coverage by insurance type for each category of device and discuss how device attributes, in conjunction with the targeted conditions, influence the coverage. Our findings would help better understand insurance coverage policies and identify gaps in coverage for commonly used implanted devices.