The Montana Diabetes Program has submitted its application to receive another five years of funding to the Centers for Disease Control an Prevention. If received, the MDP will continue working on some existing goals and activities while also incorporating new ones.

Insulin, a life-saving medication can be critical for people with diabetes to live – and thrive. The cost of insulin in recent years has skyrocketed, making as many as one in four people ration their life-saving medicine, which can cause short- and long-term health problems. This critical issue of access to affordable insulin has reached the national level, with Medicare implementing a $35 insulin copay cap as of January 2023. The Montana Legislature is currently considering a bill pursuing a $35 copay cap for insulin for those with health insurance, and hopes to join 20 states that have passed an insulin copay cap.

For help, individuals with diabetes can go to Home - Get Insulin to create an action plan based on your specific circumstances and will provide a list of which cost-savings programs you may qualify for. In addition, your diabetes care and education specialist can help you find affordable options for insulin. To find a Montana diabetes education program, go to: Diabetes Self-Management Education Services. Feel free to reach out to Marci Butcher with any questions or concerns.

Increasingly we hear about the importance of addressing a person’s Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) when they are reaching out for other health care needs. This can occur at health care centers and physician’s offices, during lifestyle wellness classes, or even during outreach to community services that are meeting needs such as food insecurity, transportation assistance, housing, and others. It is well understood that addressing a person’s health does not start or stop at the provider’s door.

Our health is inextricably linked to our social and economic conditions, and addressing these social needs will help us impact health outcomes.

There are efforts statewide to collaboratively evolve a shared approach and tools for connecting people in Montana with needed and culturally responsive resources. An SDOH screener is one tool used to assess the impact of a variety of social and economic factors that can impact a person’s health and life. There are a variety of excellent screeners available, such as PRAPARE® and the AAFP screener, that can be modified to meet the needs of an organization.

When a person completes a screener, it can provide valuable information to a care group that allows conversation and/or an ability to provide referrals to needed services. Be prepared with a list of resources to help guide a person who may have a positive SDOH response. Resources may be limited, but identify what you can do to support them – it is one step in the right direction and begins opening communication channels that can help with navigation to essential services.

Billing procedure codes is a great way to improve reimbursement, track improvements and procedures, and understand where change can occur. 

In most electronic health records (EHRs), working with the billing and information technology departments can not only incorporate these codes into workflow but also report on results. 

Montana Medicaid's proposed 2023 Physician Fee Schedule is available online. This is a great way to see potential revenue related to services you may provide.