V-BID Update: Medicare Expands Virtual Diabetes Coverage, States Advance Value-Based Care

In this Issue:

• One Week Left to Register! 2026 V-BID Summit
• Virtual Diabetes Programs Secure Medicare Coverage
• Most States Investing in Value-Based and Rural Health Transformation
• Reducing Administrative Burden Can Strengthen Value-Based Primary Care
• Ivermectin’s Rise Highlights Risks of Politicized Treatments
• Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Limits on Medical Credit Cards
• Copay Cards May Undermine Drug Cost Savings
• California Residents Report Widespread Cost and Access Struggles

Virtual Diabetes Programs Secure Medicare Coverage

A provision in the recent $1.2 trillion federal budget package reauthorizes and expands access to virtual Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) services through 2029. This change allows certified digital health providers, including virtual-only companies, to deliver year-long Type 2 diabetes prevention education and coaching to Medicare beneficiaries at risk. The legislation also permits beneficiaries to participate more than once and removes barriers that had limited virtual access, especially in areas without in-person sites.

Most States Investing in Value-Based and Rural Health Transformation

A new report from U.S. of Care finds that the majority of states are investing in value-based care programs and initiatives to strengthen rural health systems. These efforts include expanding alternative payment models, increasing care coordination, and building infrastructure to support providers in underserved areas. States also reported prioritizing data sharing and quality measurement to drive value and improve outcomes.

Reducing Administrative Burden Can Strengthen Value-Based Primary Care

A new issue brief highlights how excessive administrative tasks, such as documentation requirements and insurance paperwork, hinder primary care practices from effectively delivering value-based care. It recommends simplifying prior authorizations, standardizing reporting requirements, and leveraging technology to reduce non-clinical workload. The brief also suggests aligning payment models with clinicians’ time and resources to support care coordination and preventive services.

Ivermectin’s Rise Highlights Risks of Politicized Treatments

An NPR report examines how ivermectin, a drug with limited scientific evidence for COVID-19 or cancer treatment, became a politically charged and widely used therapy. Physicians and researchers warn that misinformation and social media hype led many patients to request or use the drug despite a lack of clinical support for these indications. Experts note that reliance on unproven treatments can delay access to effective care and undermine trust in evidence-based medicine.

Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Limits on Medical Credit Cards

Connecticut legislators are reviewing a bill that would curb how medical credit cards are marketed and used to cover out-of-pocket health care costs, amid concerns they can be predatory. The proposal would ban providers from promoting these cards in offices and prevent charging them for services not yet performed or already covered by insurance.

Copay Cards May Undermine Drug Cost Savings

Many patients use copay assistance cards to offset high prescription drug cost sharing, but a new analysis finds that these discounts can inadvertently keep list prices and overall spending high. Copay cards help individuals afford costly medications, yet they often steer patients toward expensive brand drugs and blunt incentives for payers to negotiate lower prices. As a result, short-term patient savings may be partially offset by sustained high drug costs across the system.

California Residents Report Widespread Cost and Access Struggles in 2026 Policy Survey

The 2026 CHCF California Health Policy Survey finds that health care costs are placing a financial strain on 7 in 10 Californians, with 64% worried about unexpected medical bills — more than those concerned about rent or groceries. Nearly 6 in 10 report that they or a family member skipped or delayed care due to cost in the past year, and about 40% carry medical debt, with burdens heavier for low-income and Latino/x residents.

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