When will Medicare cover additional test strips and lancets?
Medicare may cover additional test strips and lancets: • if the patient’s physician has seen the patient within the last 6 months and has evaluated their diabetes control. • when the physician has documented in the patient’s medical record the specific reason for the additional test strips and lancets. • when the patient keeps a testing log book in their medical records or otherwise documents the frequency at which the patient is actually testing. The patient must provide the supplier with a copy of 1 month of testing readings every 6 months, or there must be documentation in the physician’s records (e.g. a specific narrative statement that adequately documents the frequency at which the patient is actually testing).
• If the patient’s physician has seen the patient within the last 6 months and has evaluated their diabetes control. • When the physician has documented in the patient’s medical record the specific reason for the additional strips and lancets for that particular patient. • When the patient keeps a testing log book in their medical records or otherwise documents the frequency at which the patient is actually testing. The patient must provide the supplier with a copy of one month of test readings every six months. • When the patient’s physician provides a written order for the frequency of testing that is greater than established utilization limits.
