Senseonics (NYSE:SENS) said yesterday that Humana is now providing coverage for its Eversense continuous glucose monitoring system and insertion procedure.
Humana is the fifth-largest health insurer in the U.S. with 17 million patients in 50 states, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, according to a news release. Its coverage policy with Senseonics makes patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes that require insulin eligible for Eversense. The policy was made effective on October 22.
Eversense is a long-term, implantable CGM sensor with a transmitter that sends discreet vibrations to alert users of low or high glucose. The device can be removed, recharged and re-adhered without discarding the sensor. The system was launched in August 2018 and has since won FDA approval to enable nurse practitioners and physicians assistants, not just trained physicians, to implant and remove the device.
“Eversense and the insertion procedure being included in the Humana CGM policy once again validates that an increasing number of payers are supporting the value our long-term CGM provides to patients with diabetes,” Senseonics president & CEO Tim Goodnow said in prepared remarks. “We are especially pleased that access has been included for not only for the Type 1 diabetes patients but also for the Type 2 patients that require insulin. We are confident that Eversense can conveniently assist all patients in managing their diabetes.”
Just last week, Senseonics won reimbursement for the Eversense system from Health Care Service Corporation – Blue Cross Blue Shield.
In August, Germantown, Md.-based Senseonics touted data from a two-year post-market registry in Europe that showed no serious adverse events and a low rate of related adverse events after multiple sensor insertion and removal cycles. The company said 5,417 sensors were inserted, for a total 1,260 patient-years of followup. Over two years of data collection, 0.96% of patients experienced sensor-site infection and 0.66% showed irritation from the adhesive patch.
Also in August, the company touted real-world data from a study of 205 U.S. patients using Eversense over a 90-day wear period. That study reported zero device or procedure-related adverse events from Eversense implementation.
Shares of SENS were up 6.9% at $1.09 per share in midday trading today.
