Blue Circle Health: A Plan To Help People With Type 1 Diabetes Thrive
Key takeaways:
- Blue Circle Health is a free, six-month program that offers virtual care to people with type 1 diabetes.
- The service provides comprehensive support in one place, including telehealth, diabetes education, financial assistance for medicine and supplies, and social work.
- The organization supports those with type 1 diabetes facing challenges and acts as a model meant to influence healthcare practices.
Free diabetes care? What's the catch?
That’s often the first question when people hear about Blue Circle Health, a program offering virtual care, diabetes supplies, and mental health support for people with type 1 diabetes.
The service is limited by design to six months and is currently funded and staffed to support 1,500 people per year.
On any given day, about half that many people are in the program as some enter and exit, said Leonard D'Avolio, the organization's CEO and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Blue Circle is funded by the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.
"We'll work hard for six months to not only give you the things you need but teach you how to thrive with this 24/7, incurable condition so that you have a stronger foundation moving forward," D'Avolio said.
Blue Circle currently operates in 17 states and the District of Columbia and continues to expand to new states.
The organization in currently active in: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Virginia, Florida, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Missouri, and Iowa.
Refocusing on patient needs vs. insurance coverage
While the program's duration and capacity are limited, the number of offerings available at no cost is wide-ranging.
Health care and other services are provided by phone, text, and video and include online appointments with an endocrinologist, certified diabetes educator, registered dietician, and diabetes supportive counseling.
The service also offers help navigating insurance issues, as well as financial assistance for type 1 diabetes medicine and supplies. Blue Circle will make referrals to community support services for clients whose diabetes management is affected by the need for housing, food, and employment, as well as those dealing with insurance lapses.
Their introductory continuous glucose monitoring program provides three months of support for Abbott's Freestyle Libre 3 CGM. Those who need help paying for type 1-related diabetes medicine are provided with a card to pay for prescriptions for up to a year.
The service also offers support and advice for those who use insulin pumps and automated insulin delivery systems.
Peer guides who live with type 1 diabetes help patients navigate the program and provide ongoing assistance. A monthly peer support group meeting is open to current and former participants.
Though the program acts as an extension of existing care, it does not bill insurance for its services.
D’Avolio noted that Blue Circle helps a range of participants — from people misdiagnosed with type 2 diabetes to those unsure where to find long-term care, or just seeking a tune-up.
"If you have this condition, the healthcare system has made it really difficult to get everything you need," D'Avolio said. "And for some people, giving a little bit of help brings them to the next level. And for other people, we have to invest more, and we're happy to do either."
Next steps
When the six month program nears completion, the organization works to establish long-term solutions for each client's diabetes-related challenges.
"Participants are aware of the time-limited nature of the program from the start," D'Avolio said. "Everything is planned with that in mind and discussed along the way. One of the things we do is make sure you have a primary care physician or an endocrinologist because we're not a medical home."
After each visit, progress notes go to the participant’s regular provider, who is also informed when care transitions.
"We're a supplement to whatever care they have access to, and keeping them connected is important," D'Avolio said.
Some participants transition out of the program sooner than six months if they feel their needs have been met, he said. In other cases, if clients need additional support, Blue Circle will extend their services to help them transition out of the program. Those who complete the program can reenroll a year after the original date of their enrollment.
The bottom line
Blue Circle Health, funded by the Helmsley Charitable Trust, offers free, virtual diabetes care for up to six months, including telehealth, mental health support, and assistance for paying for prescriptions and CGM. The program does not require insurance, though it can help participants navigate insurance issues.
The organization currently supports people in 16 states – with plans to expand nationwide. The program aims to show how comprehensive virtual diabetes care can be delivered and replicated to expand access.
"It's important for other big stakeholders in the community of all types of diabetes to get behind an idea like this," D'Avolio said. "It's important for us to show what's possible – and bring others to the table."
Learn more about diabetes care here: