FreeStyle Libre 2 previously only had coverage for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who require intensive insulin therapy. France’s expansion covers the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) for all people who use basal insulin as part of their diabetes management.
The Abbott Park, Illinois-based company said this expansion enables more access to the CGM in France. Abbott noted that more than 90% of people living with diabetes in France have type 2.
France’s expansion marks the first European widening of national reimbursement for FreeStyle Libre to basal insulin users. It follows similar coverage changes in Japan and the U.S. Medicare system. According to Abbott, altogether, it expands eligibility to 3 million more people living with diabetes.
“Our goal is to get our FreeStyle Libre technology to as many people as possible,” said Jared Watkin, SVP of Abbott’s diabetes care business. “The French national reimbursement decision is an important step in providing broader access to people with diabetes, and we are working with other countries to extend this coverage to more people.”
Clinical evidence supported coverage expansion for Abbott technology
Abbott said it received the coverage decision based on scientific evidence supporting FreeStyle Libre’s clinical benefits for insulin users. That includes the Real World Evidence of FreeStyle Libre (RELIEF) study.
This retrospective study of the French national claims database showed significant reductions in acute complications of diabetes for those with type 2 on once-daily basal insulin. It led to a 67% decrease in hospitalizations.
“Studies have shown that FreeStyle Libre technology can help people with diabetes improve their glucose control, decrease diabetes-related hospital admissions, and reduce the burden associated with conventional self-monitoring of blood glucose,” said Professor Bruno Guerci, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Nutrition at Brabois Adult Hospital, University of Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. “The expanded reimbursement for Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre 2 now opens up access to allow a new group of patients to experience the benefits of continuous glucose monitoring, which was only available to those with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and following intensive insulin therapy.”
