Impact of Health Policies and Programs on Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the NEXT-D2 Partner Network

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After the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion, newly insured Hispanic patients had better control of their diabetes with the largest reduction in hemoglobin A1c, also known as HbA1c, compared with newly insured non-Hispanic Whites, researchers reported in “Disparities in Biomarkers for Patients With Diabetes After the Affordable Care Act,” published in the June 2020 supplement of Medical Care. Among patients with uncontrolled A1c (HbA1c ≥ 9%), newly insured non-Hispanic Blacks gained control of their diabetes faster than non-Hispanic Whites.

Data for this report were analyzed from the Natural Experiments for Translation in Diabetes 2.0 (NEXT-D2) Study, which uses data collected from their partner network to examine how major policies and interventions affected diabetes management and type 2 diabetes prevention. NEXT-D2 is a follow-up to the NEXT-D study that was mandated by health care legislation to evaluate health policies and interventions used by health care systems, businesses, and communities to reduce diabetes risk, complications, and health inequalities across broad segments of the US population.

Disparities in Biomarkers for Patients With Diabetes After the Affordable Care Act,” published in the June 2020 supplement of the journal Medical Care.

It is important to keep blood sugar levels in a defined target range as much as possible to help prevent or delay long-term, serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease. Managing cholesterol levels and high blood pressure is very important too. Learn more about managing blood sugar and how to prevent diabetes complications.

In “Reduced Cost-sharing for Preventive Drugs Preferentially Benefits Low-income Patients With Diabetes in High Deductible Health Plans With Health Savings Accounts Managing Diabetes,” researchers reported that insurers who get rid of patient copayments for selected medicines, known as Preventive Drug Lists, can rapidly increase the use of these preventive medicines and supplies, especially for lower-income patients. Preventive Drug Lists cover important medicines used to manage diabetes and heart disease and are associated with large annual out-of-pocket cost savings for patients with diabetes. Find out how you can save money on medicine, supplies, and treatment to get the care you need.

Reduced Cost-sharing for Preventive Drugs Preferentially Benefits Low-income Patients With Diabetes in High Deductible Health Plans With Health Savings Accounts Managing Diabetes, published in the June 2020 supplement of the journal Medical Care.

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