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Blood Glucose Meter Program

Preferred Test Strips

Effective October 1, 2009, Bayer and Abbott productsbecame the preferred brands of test strips for all of our prescription drug programs. Both of these brands offer your patients simple and accurate testing strips and monitoring systems. Accu-Chek® and OneTouch®, are now non-preferred and therefore no longer included on our formulary.

For Abbott monitors, the preferred test strips include FreeStyle®, FreeStyle Lite®, and Precision Xtra®. For Bayer monitors, the preferred test strips include Contour®, Breeze®2, Elite®, and Autodisc®.

Prior Authorizations Required

If your patient chooses to use a test strip that is not FreeStyle®, FreeStyle Lite®, Precision Xtra®, Contour®, Breeze®2, Elite®, or Autodisc®, you will need to complete a prior authorization form on your patient’s behalf. If the prior authorization is not approved, the non-preferred test strips will not be a covered pharmacy benefit for your patient, and he or she will be responsible for the entire cost of the test strips. If the request for the non-preferred test strips is approved, your patient will be charged the highest level of cost-sharing.

Free Blood Glucose Meters

Both Abbott and Bayer blood glucose meters are available at no cost to our members. Below is a comparison chart of important features of the blood glucose meters and corresponding test strips. The preferred brands rank high in patient satisfaction and can be used in several test sites, as listed below.

Abbott Diabetes Care Bayer Diabetes Care
Blood Glucose Meter FreeStyle® FreeStyle Freedom® Lite Precision Xtra® Contour® Breeze®2
Sample size (uL) 0.3 0.3 0.6 0.6 1.0
Test time 5 seconds 5 seconds 5 seconds 5 seconds 5 seconds
Approved test sites Fingertip, hand, forearm, upper arm, thigh, calf Fingertip, hand, forearm, upper arm, thigh, calf Fingertip, palm, forearm, upper arm Fingertip, palm, forearm Fingertip, palm
Sample fill technique Side Side End or top End End
Calibration type No coding No coding SmartChip (process ketone data) Automatic Automatic
Height of read-out (mm) 10 20 19 12.5 11
Corresponding test strips FreeStyle Lite® FreeStyle Lite® Precision Xtra® Contour® Breeze®2,Autodisc

To order a free meter from Abbott or Bayer, you or your patient should contact the manufacturer directly using the information below.

For More Information

If you have questions about our preferred diabetic test strips and corresponding meters, please contact FutureScripts®*, our pharmacy benefits management company, at 1-888-678-7012.

* FutureScripts® is an independent company and serves as Independence Blue Cross’ Pharmacy Benefits Manager.

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