The American Diabetes Association® (ADA) applauds Colorado Governor Jared Polis for signing a bill allowing a broader population of Colorado’s Medicaid members to be eligible for a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), closing a huge health equity gap in access to care for people with diabetes who take insulin.
CGMs consistently monitor blood glucose levels (blood sugar), giving real-time updates through a device that is attached to a person’s body. People with diabetes who use a CGM have fewer instances of hypoglycemia (low blood glucose) and can achieve a lower A1C, an important indicator of overall diabetes management.
The benefits of CGMs include:
- Help in avoiding or delaying serious, short- and long-term diabetes complications
- Potential reduced hospitalizations
- Potential cost savings through improved diabetes management
- Fewer adverse diabetes events
The new law, created by Senate Bill 168, aligns CGM eligibility criteria with that of Medicare, expanding access to anyone with diabetes who uses insulin. It will go into effect in late 2025.
“The ADA thanks Governor Polis and bill sponsors Speaker Julie McCluskie, Representative Matthew Martinez, and Senators Dylan Roberts and Cleave Simpson for their leadership, support, and advocacy for people living with diabetes. Access to technology like continuous glucose monitors is critical to closing health equity gaps in access to care and improving the lives of people with diabetes in our great state,” said Christine Fallabel, ADA’s southwest regional director of state government affairs, and a CGM-user who lives with type 1 diabetes herself.
Over 38 million Americans have diabetes and nearly 98 million American adults have prediabetes. According to the ADA, approximately 322, 900 adults in Colorado, or 6.9 percent of the adult population, have been diagnosed with diabetes. Additionally, an estimated 27,500 adults in Colorado are diagnosed with diabetes each year.
"I could not be more thrilled that Governor Polis has signed SB168 because this new law will truly improve and save the lives of so many Coloradans. Continuous glucose monitors are such a valuable tool to keep people healthy on a daily basis, improve long-term health outcomes, and save our state millions of dollars. With the passage of this bill, we are going to ensure that every Coloradan with diabetes who needs a CGM can get a CGM. I extend sincere thanks to the advocates from the ADA and across the state who worked so hard with us to get this done,” said Senator Dylan Roberts, a prime sponsor of the legislation and one of the state’s leading diabetes champions for accessibility and affordability.
If you are struggling to pay for insulin or know someone who is, the ADA has resources to help, visit InsulinHelp.org.
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About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 83 years, the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the 136 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life®. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).
