Lab Group Recognizes the National Changing Diabetes Program for New Study on Quality Measures in Diabetes

Lab Group Recognizes the National Changing Diabetes Program for New Study on
Quality Measures in Diabetes

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Clinical
Laboratory Association's Results for Life Campaign (RFL) today recognized the
National Changing Diabetes Program (NCDP) for funding a newly published study
on quality measurement in diabetes care. The NCDP, funded by Novo Nordisk, is
a multi-faceted initiative to help bring about dramatic improvement in the
prevention and care of diabetes.

The study, by researchers from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia and
published today in the journal, Population Health Management, evaluated the
strengths and weaknesses of current quality measurement efforts in diabetes.

"This is another important study in the battle against diabetes because it
helps all parties -- providers, payers, patients, and policymakers -- better
understand the strengths of quality measures, as well as areas in which they
can be improved, for one of the most damaging and costly diseases we face,"
said David Mongillo, Vice President of Policy and Medical Affairs of the
American Clinical Laboratory Association. "If we are to make serious
progress against diabetes, we must have the best metrics to show which
strategies are most successful in improving prevention, patient outcomes, and
cost-effectiveness."

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.

The American Clinical Laboratory Association represents the nation's clinical
reference laboratories. The group's educational campaign, Results for Life,
focuses on the value of laboratory medicine. The Lewin Group report, The Value
of Laboratory Screening and Diagnostic Tests for Prevention and Health Care
Improvement, is available at the RFL website, www.labresultsforlife.org

Contact: Ron Geigle, 571-435-0413
Helen Pettay, 910-795-1202

SOURCE American Clinical Laboratory Association

Ron Geigle, +1-571-435-0413, or Helen Pettay, +1-910-795-1202, both of the
American Clinical Laboratory Association