POGO Automatic Gains Medicare Coverage

More than two years after its U.S. launch, Intuity Medical Inc.’s POGO Automatic Blood Glucose Monitoring (ABGM) system has finally gained Medicare Part B coverage.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has created two new coverage codes specifically for POGO Automatic, recognizing the new and different technology compared to traditional blood glucose meters (BGMs). POGO Automatic features an all-in-one design that integrates testing supplies into a 10-test cartridge.
 
As the first and only U.S. Food and Drug Administration-cleared automatic blood glucose monitoring (ABGM) system on the market, POGO Automatic helps improve diabetes management by allowing patients to easily test their glucose levels without disrupting their daily activities. Its one-step process automates the multiple-step glucose monitoring process associated with traditional BGMs, making it easier for many elderly diabetics to check their blood glucose.
 
“Many people with diabetes continue to rely on glucose monitors for tracking their blood sugar levels, particularly within the Medicare population, which often includes patients with dexterity, visual, or physical challenges that make traditional self-monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) meters cumbersome and challenging,”  said Rosemarie Lajara, M.D., an endocrinologist with Southern Endocrinology & Diabetes Associates P.A. in Plano, Texas. “Patients desire options, and currently, there is no meter like this one. POGO Automatic is an all-in-one automated product that streamlines the process. The extension of POGO Automatic’s use to our Medicare patients is a positive development, as it eliminates numerous manual steps, simplifying glucose monitoring throughout the day, which can lead to increased testing compliance and metabolic control.”
 
Automating blood glucose testing steps address an unmet need for many patients who find traditional blood glucose meters, test strips, lancets, and lancing devices challenging to handle. The new coverage codes—Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes E2104 for the monitor used with integrated lancing/blood sample testing cartridges, and A4271 for the integrated lancing and blood sample testing cartridges—allow Medicare beneficiaries, who previously could not access this new technology, to obtain POGO Automatic using their Medicare Part B coverage.
 
“POGO Automatic bridges the gap between cumbersome traditional BGMs that the vast majority of seniors with diabetes rely on today and CGMs, which, despite their clinical benefits, can be burdensome to wear and may cause skin irritation issues,” Intuity Medical President/CEO George Zamanakos said. “With Medicare now covering POGO Automatic, millions of seniors finally have access to a needed alternative that simplifies blood glucose monitoring to one step. This empowers them to manage their diabetes and lets them live life on their own terms.” 

Intuity Medical Inc. was founded to make life easier for people with diabetes. Its POGO Automatic Blood Glucose Monitoring System simplifies testing with its all-in-one design, eliminating the need for separate strips and lancets. Designed in the United States, POGO Automatic cartridges are manufactured in the company’s Fremont, Calif., headquarters.