Review of Medicare Payments to ICare Medical Supply for Home Blood-Glucose Test Strip and Lancet Supplies

摘要

Pursuant to sections 1832(a)(1), 1861(s)(6), and 1861(n) of the Social Security Act, Medicare Part B covers home blood-glucose test strip and lancet supplies (test strips and lancets) that physicians prescribe for diabetics. Medicare requires that these supplies be reasonable and necessary for the treatment of a beneficiary's illness. The quantity of supplies that Medicare covers depends on the beneficiary's usual medical needs. Medicare covers up to 100 test strips and 100 lancets every month for insulin-treated diabetics and every 3 months for non-insulin-treated diabetics. (Medicare considers 50 test strips as one unit and 100 lancets as one unit.) Medicare will cover a higher quantity of supplies if the reason for the quantity in excess of the utilization guidelines and the actual frequency of testing have been documented in the beneficiary's medical record. For any quantity of supplies, the suppliers records must contain evidence that the beneficiary or the beneficiary's caregiver specifically requested the supplies before shipment.