Japan’s medical insurance system introduced a new category titled “C150.” It makes a wider range of people with diabetes eligible to receive reimbursement for the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM) in Japan.
Dexcom develops and manufactures the current-generation G6 CGM. It offers the next-generation Dexcom G7 CGM in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Hong Kong. U.S. approval could come soon, too. Terumo markets the G6 in Japan, according to a news release.
The Dexcom G6 system features a wearable sensor attached to a user’s abdomen. It automatically transmits glucose measurements every five minutes to a monitor or smart device with a dedicated application. Users can check their real-time glucose values and trends through a visualized graph.
Additionally, G6 notifies users when glucose measurements fall outside a pre-set target range. It also sends alerts upon predictions of hypoglycemia occurring in 20 minutes.
The platform previously held coverage in two reimbursement categories. Those categories limited eligibility to a person with type 1 diabetes or a person with type 2 diabetes with the conditions of unstable glycemic control. It required hospitals to apply for eligibility to prescribe the Dexcom G6 and receive reimbursement. Only facilities meeting a specific criteria could apply.
Japan’s new C150 category covers all people who undergo insulin self-injection at least once per day. Coverage extends to all who fall into this category, regardless of their type of diabetes. Hospitals no longer need to submit for eligibility under the Japanese medical insurance program. Under the new category, all hospitals have eligibility to receive reimbursement.
