Nov. 3, 2020 — VSP Vision Care has released the results of an in-practice hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) screening pilot program. The results emphasized the role of optometry in the early detection of diabetes, which 34.2 million Americans live with, and prediabetes, which 88 million Americans live with. Following the initial results, the vision benefits company will expand the program to two large Ohio-based clients in January 2021.

“Diabetes is an epidemic affecting the lives of millions of Americans and its staggering prevalence continues to present challenges to a health care system already under pressure,” says VSP Vision Care President Kate Renwick-Espinosa. “We’re motivated to explore new solutions, and our pilot program demonstrates yet another way eye doctors can play a unique and crucial role in the early detection of this chronic condition and can help drive better health outcomes for patients.” 

Optometrists may detect signs of diabetes by looking at the blood vessels in the eye during a comprehensive eye exam. HbA1c screening provided by ECPs offers another critical tool to detect the condition earlier.

Select VSP-network practices participated in the pilot program, conducted from May 2019 through February 2020. Eligible patients who had come in for their annual eye exam were evaluated for prediabetes using the American Diabetes Association Risk Test and offered the HbA1c screening test, administered through a finger stick. VSP provided all pilot program materials at no cost to participating doctors and paid them a professional fee for all HbA1c screenings performed. 

Key findings from the pilot program include:

• 85% of patients who were eligible for the HbA1c screening took it.
• 31% of patients who took the HbA1c screening scored in the prediabetes range, which was previously unknown to patients.
• 5% of patients who took the HbA1c screening scored in the diabetes range, which was previously unknown to patients. 
• 92% of patients rated the screening as an extremely or very positive experience.

The program will expand to two large clients in Ohio with approximately 90,000 members. According to the Ohio Department of Health, diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in Ohio with 1.3 million adults in the state estimated to have prediabetes and not know it. If you are a VSP-network doctor in Ohio interested in learning more about the program, contact VSP here.

“As eye doctors, we see many patients who either don’t have a primary care physician or don’t see one regularly, which puts us on the front line to help detect and care for patients who have or may be at risk for diabetes,” says Ohio-based VSP-network doctor Timothy Fries, O.D. “This program allows for even earlier diagnosis and could lead to better treatment and management of diabetes, as well as preserving and protecting vision for those patients.” 

The pilot program follows other diabetes-related initiatives by the company to support ECPs and their patients. Last year, VSP and the American Diabetes Association launched a multiyear public health initiative, designed to emphasize the importance of eye exams in the early detection and prevention of diabetes-related eye disease. Additionally, VSP’s Premier Academy360 recently launched a new diabetes educational track for VSP-network doctors.