ACHP Secures $4.2M Grant for Revolutionary Diabetes Care Initiatives

ACHP Partners with Helmsley Trust to Enhance Diabetes Care

In a significant move to improve health outcomes for individuals living with diabetes, the Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) Foundation has been awarded a substantial grant of $4.2 million from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. This funding aims to pioneer innovative strategies that will expand access to essential diabetes management tools, particularly continuous glucose monitors (CGMs).

The Importance of CGMs

Continuous glucose monitors are revolutionizing how diabetes is managed. CGMs provide real-time tracking of glucose levels, eliminating the need for multiple finger pricks each day, which have been the conventional method for monitoring blood sugar. With user-friendly designs, they offer unprecedented transparency and immediate feedback, allowing users to make informed decisions about their health. However, many individuals still face hurdles such as cost, insurance coverage, and access to these critical devices.

As Ceci Connolly, President and CEO of ACHP, notes, “One out of every four health care dollars spent in the United States goes toward diabetes care. CGMs are obvious tools to improve lives while saving money.” This grant from Helmsley aims not just to provide tools but to transform the very landscape of diabetes care across communities.

Implementing Pilot Programs

Starting in October 2025, ACHP plans to launch five innovative pilot programs across its member health plans, each with a distinct focus on increasing CGM access:

1. Health Alliance Plan (Michigan) will develop a Patient-Driven Bundled Payment Model tailored specifically for diabetes care.
2. Health Alliance Plan will also create a CGM Playbook to help nonprofit health plans implement effective strategies.
3. HealthPartners (Minnesota) will introduce a Pay-for-Performance Model for community medication therapy management pharmacists.
4. Select Health (Utah) will leverage its Integrated Network to overcome educational and financial barriers related to CGM access.
5. UPMC Health Plan (Pennsylvania) will integrate diabetes specialty care via advanced electronic health record technologies.

These pilot programs will generate tangible proof-of-concept data that health plans can utilize to demonstrate the feasibility of increasing CGM access. The initiatives aim to produce real-world evidence surrounding clinical outcomes and patient experiences, which can help advocate for policy changes to solidify CGM as a standard care tool.

Aiming for a Transformative Future

One of the critical outcomes ACHP anticipates from these projects is the ability to generate compelling evidence that will advocate for the inclusion of CGMs in standard insurance coverage. Laurel Koester, a Program Officer at The Helmsley Charitable Trust, states, “These pilots hold promise to remake the landscape of CGM insurance coverage,” emphasizing the potential for these programs to make life-changing tools accessible to all individuals with insulin-requiring diabetes.

Through continuous research and data dissemination, ACHP aims to translate their findings into actionable insights for policymakers, promoting a healthcare framework where effective diabetes management is a universal standard.

This three-year initiative, funded until September 2028, aligns with ACHP's commitment to their Chronic Disease Pledge, seeking to significantly improve diabetes management outcomes by 2030. The partnership not only enhances individual lives but also positions ACHP to exert a transformative impact on the broader healthcare system.

In conclusion, with the backing of The Helmsley Charitable Trust, ACHP is taking monumental strides towards redefining diabetes care, enhancing accessibility, and setting the groundwork for robust healthcare innovation across communities globally.