For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on how glycemic control can be documented. 37% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!
Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it by clicking here.
A 62‑year‑old woman with type 2 diabetes is being followed in a value‑based care program. She uses a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) that provides detailed glucose data, which she electronically shares with her care team.
At her follow‑up visit, her provider notes that her most recent laboratory A1c is unavailable due to a missed lab draw. However, her CGM report shows a Glucose Management Indicator (GMI) of 7.2%. The care team wants to ensure her glycemic status is captured for quality reporting under updated HEDIS® measures.
Which statement best reflects how her glycemic control can be documented?
- A. GMI from CGM data can be used in place of hemoglobin A1c for quality reporting.
- B. GMI is useful for patient education but cannot be used for official quality measures.
- C. GMI should only be used if time‑in‑range data are also reported.
- D. GMI is not recognized by HEDIS® and must be converted to estimated A1c.
Getting to the Best Answer
If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.
Answer A is correct. 37.12% chose this answer: “GMI from CGM data can be used in place of hemoglobin A1c for quality reporting.” Great job! This is the correct answer. The updated HEDIS® Glycemic Status Assessment for Patients With Diabetes measure accepts either a laboratory A1c or a GMI calculated from CGM data. Therefore, her GMI of 7.2% can be documented for quality reporting and meets the measure’s glycemic-status threshold of less than 8.0%.
Answer B is incorrect. 24.49% of you chose this answer, “GMI is useful for patient education but cannot be used for official quality measures.” GMI supports patient education and clinical decision-making while also serving as an accepted glycemic-status result under the updated HEDIS® measure.
Answer C is incorrect. 21.72% of respondents chose this: “GMI should only be used if time‑in‑range data are also reported.” Time in Range provides valuable information about glucose patterns, but a GMI result can independently document glycemic status for HEDIS® quality reporting.
Finally, Answer D is incorrect. 16.67% chose this answer, “GMI is not recognized by HEDIS® and must be converted to estimated A1c.” The updated HEDIS® measure directly recognizes GMI as a glycemic-status result. GMI is the current term derived from CGM data and requires no conversion to “estimated A1c.”
We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Test You Knowledge Tuesday and participate in this fun learning activity!
Want to Learn More about this Question?
Digital Quality Reporting: Advanced Strategies for Diabetes Professionals | November 12th
Join Dr. Marie Frazzitta on November 12 & Earn 1.25 CES
Did you know that YOU are practicing in a healthcare system where the traditional fee for service model is giving way to value-based diabetes care, and how essential YOU are in that shift?
- Get ready! Emerging digital tools and quality programs are transforming diabetes care delivery and reporting.
- HEDIS® updates are increasingly incorporating CGM data, reflecting stronger alignment between diabetes technology and value‑based care.
- Diabetes Healthcare professionals are uniquely positioned to lead the transition to digital, value‑based diabetes care by leveraging their expertise in engagement, technology adoption, and care gap closure.
