Diabetes is a disease. No question to that point.
Diabetes is a business. Don’t fool yourself for one second to think it’s not.
With the ‘buzz’ circling about the recent decision about insurance giant United Health Care allowing Medtronic as their preferred pump of choice and leaving others to scramble—-we need to take a hard look at this situation.
As I stated yesterday, this has been going on for some time and these decisions are nowhere near new. I do not blame Medtronic, from a business perspective, who would not make this deal? And it is there I lay my point for today’s article; ‘from a business perspective’.
As you are well aware, these decisions impact people. Adults and children alike who live with diabetes (although United Health Care HAS STATED that at this time this decision will not impact children). But as I stated and will continue to say; this recent decision is not a new development in how business works. To all those who are out there now raising a ruckus about it for the first time, I state—-welcome to the party.
We can run around blaming Medtronic and United Health Care or we can bring our collective minds together to figure out how we can change the parameters of patient choice in this country that is much worthy a discussion than this recent decision. THIS IS THE DISCUSSION. A huge undertaking. But certainly worthy of a dialogue. Not sure how to do this, but collectively we should be able to figure something out. While we are at it; let’s bring a representatives/advocates from other disease states to the table…..they have to be fighting this battle as well, don’t you think?
As we look to collect the many stories out there, which we will need and I encourage you to share your insurance story here; I caution with everything I know that this is a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-dig-in kind of battle. We MUST RAISE OUR VOICES but spending our energy blaming companies for their business choices is NOT the way to do it. We have got to come together and figure this out. We have to bring the right people in the room to advise us. We have to collectively seek answers.
Certainly having a diabetes company involved with us in seeing the bigger picture cannot hurt. Any takers?
Over the years there have been many large companies that have tried to change the parameters and have failed because, mostly, it was nothing more than a marketing campaign to ‘show’ how much they care. If we all keep our focus on those living with diabetes and allow them the choices they deserve…..we can all win. Having diabetes is no one’s choice; but the best way to manage diabetes……………absolutely should be.
Let’s come together and figure this out. It has to make sense to the business platform as much as it does to the patient’s desire…….I’m confident there is middle ground. Let’s come together and seek what could work for all. Anyone want to meet?
I am a diabetes dad.
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