New Data Show Diabetes Care In New Mexico Improving

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New Data Show Diabetes Care In New Mexico Improving
October 29, 2002
Susan Pisano

“New Mexico Health Care Takes On Diabetes” Credited With
Significant Progress On Key Diabetes Care Measures

(Albuquerque, New Mexico)-New data released today demonstrate significant improvements in caring for thousands of New Mexico residents with diabetes, according to New Mexico Health Care Takes on Diabetes, a coalition of New Mexico's health care professionals, health plans, the New Mexico Department of Health, and the New Mexico Medical Review Association.

The new data, which reveal marked improvements in diabetes care for people who are in managed care plans, are being hailed as a major step forward for the health of New Mexico residents with the disease. Diabetes disproportionately affects the residents of New Mexico, with more than 120,000 adult New Mexicans living with the disease.

“Diabetes is a serious health issue and the 6th leading cause of death in New Mexico. Diabetes takes a toll on families throughout the Land of Enchantment," said Secretary Jack Callaghan of the New Mexico Department of Health. "The New Mexico Health Care Takes on Diabetes coalition is having a major impact. All measures and indicators are much improved. As the numbers released today suggest, tackling the disease in a comprehensive, collaborative way results in better diabetes care for all New Mexicans.”

While much is known about how to care for people with diabetes, the knowledge needs to be put into practice consistently in order to have an impact. Broad improvements in the way people with diabetes are treated will lead to significantly fewer health complications associated with the disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in America, and also leads to kidney damage, nerve damage, and stroke.

“The data released today are encouraging, because in the long term, we'll see fewer of the severe health complications associated with this terrible disease,” said Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of the American Association of Health Plans (AAHP). “Care for people with diabetes is most successful when it's built around a health care system where physicians, plans, and patients work together. New Mexico is setting a good example.”

The successful New Mexico program is part of a national effort - Taking on Diabetes -- sponsored by AAHP and the American Diabetes Association.

The data show broad improvements on all key measures for people with diabetes enrolled in a managed care plan. Among the results, monitoring for kidney damage has jumped by over 25 percent, from just 38 percent in 2001 to more than 63 percent in 2002. More than 50 percent of all plan members are receiving routine eye exams, up from 45 percent the year before. In addition, people with diabetes in New Mexico receiving proper blood glucose testing is up an average of 11 percent.

“A coordinated approach to treatment, using standards and guidelines, is the best way to ensure that people with diabetes are getting the right care,” said Stephen Ryter, M.D., Corporate Medical Director/Chief Medical Officer, Cimarron Health Plan, and Chair of New Mexico Health Care Takes on Diabetes. “Through this unique program, people with diabetes are receiving more routine eye exams, more comprehensive blood screenings, and better monitoring for kidney damage than ever before,” said Ryter. “Over time, this will translate into fewer complications and a better quality of life for residents of our State who have this disease.”

New Mexico Health Care Takes On Diabetes (NMHCTOD), initiated in 1998, is a broad collaborative of New Mexico's health care professionals, health plans, the New Mexico Department of Health, and the New Mexico Medical Review Association. This coalition is a group effort aimed at reducing the negative health effects associated with diabetes by serving New Mexico's community interest through education, prevention, early diagnosis and appropriate treatment of people with diabetes. It is part of a national effort -- Taking on Diabetes -- sponsored by the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Health Plans. For more information, visit www.takingondiabetes.org .

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