Diabetic Care

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The cause of diabetes is a mystery, although both genetics and environmental factors such as obesity and lack of exercise appear to play roles.

Umeco understands the special needs of Diabetic Care in Puerto Rico.
To that end, the company endeavors to bring the best products for Health Care Providers for the Diabetic condition. Having Diabetes should not prevent your clients from achieving great things in life.
Our commitment is to provide the products that allow this to happen.

Blood Glucose Monitors

Prestige LX™

The Prestige LX home glucose meter is an affordable, easy-to-use monitor that is part of the new Prestige Smart System™. With its large, easy-to-read digital display, comfortable size, and fast, accurate results, the Prestige LX sets new standards of quality and performance for glucose monitoring equipment.

• Easy to Use with three simple steps and one button coding
• Fast, Accurate Results exceed industry accuracy standards
• Easy to Read digital display, the largest of any national brand
• Impressive Memory high 365 test memory
• Toll-Free, 24-Hour Technical Support 800-342-7226

The Prestige IQ™ Blood Glucose Monitor

The Prestige IQ™, the newest addition to the
Prestige Smart System™ family offers exceptional performance – speed, accuracy and ease-of-use – all at an affordable price.

• Fast & Accurate
• Large, Easy-to-read Display 
• 3 Simple Steps
• Date & Time, and 14 - & 30-day Averaging
• Internet Uploading Capability

5074400-6 The Prestige IQ™ Blood Glucose Monitor

For information regarding Insurance and Medicare coverage for Diabetic testing supplies, please click here.

Prestige Smart System Test Strips

These highly absorbent, comfortably sized test strips are compatible with the
Prestige LX and all other glucose meters featuring the Prestige Smart System™ brand name.

- Comfortably-Sized highly absorbent test strips are easy to handle
- Small Blood Sample 1/3 less than the leading national brand, plus indicator on back assures user the proper amount has been applied for the sample size verification

The Prestige Lite Touch™
Lancing Device

Designed for greater precision and greater comfort.

- Simple to Use with four easy steps
- Lightweight, Highly Portable Design with comfortable trigger button and one-hand lancing
- Quick, Easy Lancet Insertion and Disposal
- Durable, Trouble-Free construction
- Five Depth Settings ensure optimum skin penetration

Prestige Lite Touch™ Lancets

A Gentle Alternative, designed to deliver higher performance and value through
superior engineering and manufacturing.

- Smoother, More Comfortable Skin Penetration is the result of the precisely
manufactured, tri-bevel, ultra-thin tip
- Feel the Difference with a design offering more comfort, adequate volume and less callous build-up
- Patented Protective Lancet Cap for safer disposal after use
- Higher Quality Grind Angles give these lancets a clear advantage

Foot Care for Diabetics

Diabetes is caused by inadequate levels or reduced effectiveness of insulin. Insulin is responsible for the proper metabolism of blood sugar and the maintenance of blood sugar level. Aside from the immediate effects of elevated blood sugar, the long term effects of diabetes relate to blood vessel changes.

Blood vessel changes often lead to difficulties with the feet. Because of this, people with diabetes are at a greater risk of amputation. With proper footwear, this situation can be greatly reduced.

Click here for information about the Medicare Therapeutic Shoe Bill

Spring Street™

Elegant style and unsurpassed function make these the most popular shoe for Pedorthic and comfort-shoe-retail use. Many colors available! Removable insoles make room for QuikFits® insoles or Custom Orthoses!

River Walk™

A proven pattern that brings customers back again and again. These shoes are incredibly comfortable and casually stylish. The speed lace system is easy to use. Removable insoles make room for QuikFits® insoles or Custom Orthoses

Broadway™

A versatile shoe for all Pedorthic applications
Perfect for those requiring extra toe room or for those with forefoot deformity. Tandem Closure system makes for easy use; Velcro or Lace. Removable insoles make room for QuikFits® insoles or Custom Orthoses

Comfort Street™

Soft, stretchy SBR forefoot vamp is the comfort secret of these shoes. The Tandem Closure System® allows hook-n-loop or normal lace closure! Removable insoles make room for QuikFits® insoles or Custom Orthoses! These shoes are a Pedorthist's dream





Mary Jane
ACOR's new Mary Jane style shoe will be available soon!

Need more information or pricing? Click here

Providers of footwear and foot care have a unique and unparalleled opportunity to help qualified diabetic patients. In an unprecedented move, Congress amended the Medicare statutes to provide partial reimbursement for depth shoes, custom molded shoes, and shoe inserts to qualifying Medicare Part B diabetic patients

Designed to prevent lower limb amputations prevalent in long-term diabetic patients, this new Medicare benefit has the potential to prevent patient suffering, prolong patient life, and save money. According to the CDC, in 1990 there were over 54,000 lower limb amputations due to diabetes. Experts agree that most of these amputations are preventable with appropriate footwear and orthoses

How Patients Qualify:

The physician (M.D. or D.O.) who is managing the patient's systemic diabetic condition must certify that:

1. The patient has diabetes mellitus (lCD-9 diagnosis codes 250.00 - 250.91)

2. The patient has one or more of the following conditions:
Previous amputation of the other foot, or part of either foot, or History of previous foot ulceration of either foot, or History of pre-ulcerative calluses of either foot, or Peripheral neuropathy with evidence of callus formation of either foot, or Foot deformity of either foot, or Poor circulation in either foot; and

3. The physician who is managing the patient's systemic diabetes condition has certified that indications I & 2 are met and that he/she is treating the patient under a comprehensive plan of care for his/her diabetes and that the patient needs therapeutic shoes

What is Reimbursable:

A qualifying patient is limited to one of the following footwear categories within one calendar year, reimbursed at 80% of the allowable amount:

* One pair of depth shoes and three pair of inserts

-OR-

* One pair of custom molded shoes (including inserts) and two additional pairs of inserts.

Additionally:

1) Separate inserts may be covered under certain criteria

2) A shoe modification will be covered as a substitute for an insert

3) A custom molded shoe is covered when the patient has a foot deformity, which cannot be accommodated by a depth shoe

To Start the Process:

For a qualified patient to receive this important preventive care,

1. The Certifying Physician (managing the patient's systemic diabetes) must review and sign a Statement of Certifying Physician for Therapeutic Shoes

2. The Prescribing Physician must complete a footwear prescription (see sample form)

Once the patient has the certifying statement and the footwear prescription, he/she can see a pedorthist, orthotist, prosthetist, or podiatrist to have the prescription filled. The supplier will then submit the Medicare claim (Form HCFA 1500) to the appropriate Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier (DMERC), keeping copies of the claim form and the original prescription and statement

That's all there is to it!

Patient Payment

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA) will reimburse at 80% of the allowable amount, either directly to the patient if the supplier does not accept assignment, or to the supplier if the supplier accepts assignment. The patient is responsible for a minimum of 20% of the total payment amount and, perhaps more if the dispenser is not accepting assignment and the dispenser's usual fee is higher than the allowable amount

In 2000, the maximum payment amounts, per pair, are not to exceed the following. Prices may be slightly lower in some areas

Depth Shoes

Total Allowable Amount $126.00 per pair

Amount from HCFA to Patient or Supplier $100.80 per pair

Custom Molded Shoes

Total Allowable Amount $378.00 per pair

Amount from HCFA to Patient or Supplier $302.40 per pair

Inserts or modifications

Total Allowable Amount $64.00 per pair

Amount from HCFA to Patient or Supplier $51.20 per pair


ICD-9 codes
Because this benefit is only available to diabetic patients, an appropriate ICD-9 code (250.00-250.91)
is required when completing the Statement of Certifying Physician

Back to top