Do neurologists in Germany adhere to the national Parkinson’s disease guideline?

Implementation of guidelines can improve clinical practice. The aim in this study was to investigate whether neurologists in Germany adhered to the national Parkinson’s disease guideline. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 60 neurologists. Analyses were performed on 320 patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease with either low grades of functional impairment (Hoehn and Yahr stage I) or higher grades of functional impairment (stage II–V) but without motor complications. The sample was divided into four groups depending on age and grade of functional impairment. For each group, a biometric parameter on the use of dopamine agonists and L-dopa was defined based on the guideline. In patients aged <70 years, the recommendation to use dopamine agonists without L-dopa (parameter 1) was observed in 53% of patients with lower grades of functional impairment, whilst recommended use of dopamine agonists in more functionally impaired patients (parameter 2) was followed to a greater extent (84%). In patients aged ≥70 years, recommendations to use L-dopa without dopamine agonists were adhered to in only 50% of less functionally impaired (parameter 3) and 52% of more functionally impaired (parameter 4) patients. In conclusion, our results indicated there was moderate but not full adherence to the guideline

Budget Impact Analysis of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose vs. Flash-Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Intensive Insulin Users with Diabetes Type 2 Covered by Medicare and Medicaid

Introduction: Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) uses capillary blood glucose to measure glycemia in diabetic patients. Recently FDA-approved Flash Continuous Glucose Monitoring (F-CGM) reveals glucose levels when scanned by the reading device. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have announced to reimburse F-CGM at the same level as CGM devices. Aim: This analysis’ objective was to quantify the CMS budget impact (BI) of F-CGM reimbursement in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) on intensified insulin therapy (IIT), and compare it to the BI of conventional SMBG via cost-related break-even metrics. These were chosen because - in the absence of RCT-based, primary endpoint-driven clinical superiority evidence of F-CGM over SMBG for this population (REPLACE study) - they are well-suited to inform budget allocation decisions. Methods: An economic model was developed in Excel. CMS reimbursement/patient co-insurance levels for SMBG and F-CGM were used; data on morbidity, treatment and usage patterns were sourced from the literature and official websites. Different scenarios were simulated to elicit break-even points between F-CGM and SMBG. Results: The annual cost of SMBG with 3.7 tests per day (see REPLACE) is $180 per patient, compared to$2,156 incurred per F-CGM patient, representing a cost difference of $1,976/year or$5.41/day. This implies a budget break-even ratio of 1:12 patients (F-CGM:SMBG). Both technologies would break even at a consumption of 44 test strips per day. A year’s SMBG budget would last only 30 days if spent on F-CGM. Conclusion: With diabetes budgets under pressure, thoughtful spending policies are needed. It is recommended to analyze in detail which T2DM subgroups will benefit most from F-CGM, focusing reimbursement to the latter. SMBG, being an established technology, represents - at current reimbursement levels - an attractive spending option to budget holders

German association of health economics : competition among the systems

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