Mongillo said he was also pleased that the study reinforced a Lewin Group report released by ACLA/RFL in late September that found that the HbA1c blood test is playing an increasingly significant role in identifying and managing diabetes. Lewin reported that the test, which reflects the average blood sugar levels during the preceding 2-3 months, improves clinical decision-making for early lifestyle and therapeutic interventions that can reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes. Lewin found also that the test was more likely to yield reliable data because it did not require patients to fast beforehand.

"The data from the HbA1c test will be among the most important tools in measuring performance, not only of individual providers and institutions, but also of our entire population in battling diabetes," said Mongillo. "So we are pleased with efforts to seek the best ways of using that data in quality measures and related metrics."

NCDP also recently supported publication of a study in the health policy journal, Health Affairs, entitled "Using Clinical Information to Project Federal Health Care Spending." That study focused on the long-term costs and savings of efforts to control diabetes and its complications.

SOURCE American Clinical Laboratory Association