Cigna-HealthSpring is partnering with Telcare, marking the first use of a cellular-enabled blood glucose meter in Texas Medicaid.

Under the deal, Telcare will deliver remote monitoring and engagement services for select diabetic beneficiaries enrolled with Cigna-HealthSpring under the Texas Medicaid STAR+PLUS Program. This integration will give individuals with diabetes, caregivers, and supporting health care providers a more effective way to manage and control the chronic condition.

“Our connected technology, combined with the services of a managed care organization like Cigna-HealthSpring, enables the kind of personalized engagement and care coordination required for the successful management of chronic conditions,” said Andrew Flanagan, CEO of Telcare.

The mobile-connected Telcare BGM automatically sends each glucose reading to a secure, cloud-based server that, in turn, gives patients feedback and coaching for their condition. Caregivers and providers have online access to the same results, allowing them to easily analyze the data and get alerts about potential patient complications.

Cigna-HealthSpring and Telcare have launched their first joint program in Tarrant County, Texas.Telcare says its platform delivers patient engagement so that providers can spend more time during patient appointments focusing on prevention and less time reviewing blood glucose levels.

Cigna-HealthSpring and Telcare have launched their first joint program in Tarrant County, Texas with ongoing assessments in additional service areas.

According to the Texas Health Institute, diabetes affects one in three Texans and costs the state more than $12.5 billion a year. The number of adult Texans with diabetes is expected to quadruple over the next three decades to nearly 8 million.