Congresswoman Nanette Barragán Urges HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to Expand Access to Life-Saving Glucose Monitoring Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

11 May 2026

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Congresswoman Nanette Barragán Urges HHS Secretary RFK Jr. to Expand Access to Life-Saving Glucose Monitoring Technology

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) called on Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to take immediate action and work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand Medicare coverage of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for the millions of Americans living with diabetes.

In a letter sent following Secretary Kennedy's testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, Rep. Barragán highlighted how current policies limit coverage for glucose monitors for millions of seniors and vulnerable populations across the country. During the hearing on April 21st, Rep. Barragán had shared her own mother's experience navigating Medicare and Medicaid, through which access to the glucose monitoring technology was limited until her condition worsened. Currently, Medicare coverage of CGMs is limited to individuals with diabetes who use insulin or individuals who can document severe hypoglycemic events- criteria that exclude the majority of Medicare beneficiaries living with diabetes.

"Our healthcare system is failing patients by waiting until it is too late to act," said Congresswoman Barragán. "We should be investing in prevention, not just treatment. Continuous glucose monitors give patients the ability to manage their health in real time and avoid life-threatening complications. Expanding access to CGMs is a commonsense step that will save lives and reduce long-term health care costs. I thank Secretary Kennedy for his willingness to work with Congress and solve this problem. We have the tools and the evidence-now we need the policy to match."

Diabetes affects more than 38 million Americans, including approximately one in three Medicare beneficiaries, and costs the U.S. healthcare system over $400 billion annually. Individuals with diabetes face medical expenses more than twice as high as those without the condition, largely due to preventable complications. CGMs are a major advancement in diabetes care, which allow patients to track glucose in real time, reduce dangerous hypoglycemic events, and lowers hospitalizations and emergency room visits-key drivers of Medicare spending.

In her letter, Rep. Barragán called on HHS and CMS to:

• Use its existing regulatory authority to expand Medicare coverage of CGMs to all beneficiaries with diabetes; and
• Provide a detailed update on steps being taken to improve access to glucose monitoring technologies for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

To view the full letter, click HERE.

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