WASHINGTON, April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- A group of leading experts representing key public health and medical organizations today strongly supported new diabetes quality-care measures that include a measure of A1C<7% for people with diabetes in line with the clinical guidelines established by the American Diabetes Association. The previous measurement was A1C<8%. The new measures are scheduled to take effect this month.
The guidelines by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and the American Diabetes Association for the Diabetes Physician Recognition Program (DPRP) will adopt the new measure as part of performance standards and criteria. The program is a voluntary program for individual physicians or physician groups that provide care to people with diabetes.
“An A1C<7% is an important and achievable goal, and can help prevent or reduce the risk of severe health complications related to diabetes, saving lives and healthcare dollars,” said James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., Chair of the National Diabetes Education Program and President of Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. “Throughout the United States, there are inconsistencies among guidelines, which may be contributing to confusion among physicians and to the epidemic of uncontrolled diabetes.”
“We are hopeful that further changes will be reflected in other national quality measurement standards such as HEDIS, the Health Plan Employer and Data Information Set, that currently does not define an optimal A1C control level but only reports the percentage of patients in poor control defined as an A1C [greater than or equal to] 9.5%,” added Dr. Gavin.
A1C, also referred to as glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), is a measure of blood glucose (sugar) levels over a two- to three-month period. In people without diabetes, the normal range for A1C is 4-6%. People with diabetes who have elevated blood glucose levels have higher A1C levels.
“These changes are very significant, as we have now included as ‘measures’ both the current diabetes measures of the National Diabetes Quality Improvement Alliance and the current ADA Clinical Practice Recommendations for A1C, BP (blood pressure) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein),” said Nathaniel Clark, M.D., Vice President of Clinical Affairs, the American Diabetes Association. “This will allow better tracking of the extent to which Recognized Providers are meeting current treatment goals, including the treatment goal of A1C <7%.”
“We applaud NCQA for taking the important step of setting the A1C performance measure at a level that will benefit the most people with diabetes,” said Richard M. Bergenstal, M.D, a member of the coalition and Executive Director of the International Diabetes Center (IDC) part of Park Nicollet Health Services, a multispeciality clinic in Minneapolis. IDC obtained NCQA recognition for its entire healthcare system with over 200 primary care physicians. “If more physicians who care for individuals with diabetes are recognized through NCQA, then treatment standards will automatically be strengthened. At the same time more managed care plans and employers should be encouraged to do everything in their power to recognize and reward high performing physicians who are a part of the DPRP. A treatment standard of A1C<7% would benefit everyone.”
The government-funded study NHANES 1999-2000 showed that only 37 percent of people with diabetes had achieved an A1C<7%, demonstrating that the number of people with uncontrolled diabetes has increased over the last decade. “We can and should be doing a better job at controlling this epidemic,” said Dr. Bergenstal.
Last November, the coalition, called Aim.Believe.Achieve.: The Diabetes A1C Initiative(TM), developed a blueprint for all people with diabetes, their physicians, and their caregivers in the U.S. to achieve a blood sugar goal of A1C<7%. The coalition represents more than 40 public and private groups focused on helping people with diabetes achieve this important goal.
There are 18.2 million people in the United States, or 6.3% of the population, who have diabetes. While an estimated 13 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 5.2 million people (or nearly one- third) are unaware that they have the disease which, if untreated or not managed well -- can lead to a number of devastating complications, such as blindness, stroke, heart disease, amputation, and kidney disease.
To learn more about the importance of A1C, about Aim. Believe. Achieve.: The Diabetes Initiative(TM), and A1C<7% by 2007(TM), visit http://www.aimbelieveachieve.com/
Aim. Believe. Achieve.: The Diabetes A1C Initiative(TM) and A1C<7% By 2007(TM) are supported by Aventis Pharmaceuticals.
National Diabetes Coalition
CONTACT: Stephanie Brooks, +1-212-614-4779, Stephanie_Brooks@nyc.bm.com,or Anne Keshner, +1-212-614-5169, Anne_Keshner@nyc.bm.com, both ofBurson-Marsteller, for National Diabetes Coalition
Web site: http://www.aimbelieveachieve.com/
