Alberta drops proposed changes to insulin pump program
Health Minister Jason Copping announced Thursday morning that the province will not be going ahead with proposed changes to the insulin pump program.
“I have decided to cancel the proposed shift to the changes in the insulin pump therapy program to government sponsored benefits,” he said Thursday. “To be clear, there will be no changes to the current program.”
The government faced criticism from individuals and organizations alike after announcing the changes in May.
“I recognize that we did not approach this in the best way possible, and I have subsequently stopped this change. I also make a commitment to consult with Albertans who use insulin pumps to hear their concerns and to determine how best to move forward,” he said.
Copping also announced that new pumps would be added to the program.
Currently, Albertans taking advantage of the program have access to the following pumps:
- The Omnipod Insulin Management System manufactured by Insulet Canada
- The MiniMed 630G Insulin Pump System manufactured by Medtronic Canada
The following pumps will be added to the program as soon as possible:
- The Minimed 670G Insulin Pump System and Minimed 770G Insulin Pump System manufactured by Medtronic Canada
- The YpsoPump insulin pump manufactured by Ypsomed Canada Inc.
- The t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Basal IQ technology and the t:slim X2 Insulin Pump with Control IQ technology manufactured by Tandem Diabetes Care Canada, Inc.
More information can be found on the government’s website.
PREVIOUSLY PROPOSED CHANGES
If the changes had gone ahead, anyone who doesn’t qualify for low-income status or doesn’t have private employer insurance would have had to buy coverage through Blue Cross starting in August.
The pumps cost about $7,000 and must be replaced every five years. Additionally, other supplies can cost up to $900 per month.
Copping said when the changes were announced that it was being done to keep the program more sustainable for low-income Albertans.
"This change will allow us to cover more expensive insulin pumps, so we expect it will save about, ballpark, $9 million," he said on May 3, because fewer pumps overall will be bought by the government.
Diabetes Canada sent a letter to Copping, asking for a meeting to discuss the changes.
"Diabetes Canada is extremely concerned about the negative impact this decision will have on the health of Albertans enrolled in the IPTP and the additional costs they will be forced to incur," reads the letter, written by Russell Williams, a senior vice-president at Diabetes Canada.
“We have heard from Albertans living with type 1 diabetes that their private plans do not routinely cover insulin pumps, or their plans are capped at an annual maximum, which further increases out-of-pocket costs for diabetes management. This may also result in the unintended consequences of increasing medical interventions in the public health system."
A week after the announcement, Copping said that changes to the program would be paused, pending further public consultation.
LOBBYING ALLEGATIONS
On June 27, David Shepherd, NDP health critic, revealed that lobbyists registered to meet with provincial officials seven months before eligibility changes to the program were announced.
The NDP said Pathway Advocacy Services, on behalf of Tandem Diabetes Care Canada Inc., filed paperwork in September 2021 to lobby Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health, the premier's office, finance and treasury department members, and MLAs about insulin pumps and other "specialized drug benefits" until December 2021.
The group was seeking one or more meetings, "informal communications," telephone appeals, electronic and hard copy "written communication," alongside other "grassroots communication."
"If the government has time to meet with lobbyists who want to boost sales for their clients' technology, the government has time to meet with people with diabetes," Shepherd said. "It's episodes like this that underscore that Albertans cannot trust the UCP with their healthcare."
Copping’s press secretary, Steve Buick, fired back, telling CTV News Edmonton that the meetings referred to by the NDP "had nothing to do with the proposed changes to the insulin pump program."
"It was part of the prescribed process for Alberta to meet with industry representatives as the lead province in negotiating pricing agreements for insulin pumps and related supplies, through the Pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (PCPA)," Buick said.
Buick said that lobby meetings part of the PCPA process are not allowed to focus on program design changes, only on pricing discussions.
"The proposed change (to the IPTP) remains on hold," Buick said. "The intent from the start was to transition to a new funding model, without taking a pump away from anyone.
"We're sorry we announced the general policy direction before we did the detailed work to see how to make the transition without leaving anyone behind," he added.
PROVINCE PROMISES FURTHER CONSULTATION
While the changes to the program have been halted, Copping announced on Thursday that a working group will be launched to assess the needs of Albertans living with diabetes.
“Given the growing population of Albertans diagnosed with diabetes, a long term pathway needs to be determined so Albertans can manage their diabetes and lower their risk of adverse outcomes and reduce the demand that’s on our health-care system,” he said.
“The cost per diabetic Albertan and the total cost of diabetes has increased over the last few years, and we need to continue to look at ways to manage that growth while we continue to provide access to new, evidence based therapies and supports.”
Copping said the group will include patients, doctors, diabetes organizations and researchers.
More details are expected at a later date.
With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Sean Amato, Adam Lachacz, and Chelan Skulski.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6956926.1720544990!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
The remnants of hurricane Beryl are heading to Canada. Here's where it's expected to land
A since-downgraded hurricane that claimed several lives and left a wake of destruction in its path is forecast to strike parts of Canada this week as a tropical storm.
Argentina shows its class in 2-0 win over gutsy Canada in Copa America semifinal
Goals by Lionel Messi and Julian Alvarez lifted top-ranked Argentina past Canada as the star-studded South American side showed its pedigree in a 2-0 win in the Copa America semifinal on Tuesday.
Five hospitalizations in Ontario linked to plant-based refrigerated beverages recall
Ontario is confirming nine cases of listeriosis that are believed to be linked to a recall for Silk® and Great Value brand plant-based refrigerated beverages.
'Her whole future ahead of her': Sask. photographer captures Manitoba graduate posing on iceberg
Some say a photograph is simply a memory frozen in time – and a high school graduation photo taken in Churchill, Man. takes that adage to a completely new level.
'Hilarious and fun': Ottawa man surprised with 40th birthday party inside Value Village
As much as Tyler Garvey loves hunting for a vintage bargain, he never expected to celebrate his 40th birthday inside a Value Village location.
The body of an American climber buried by an avalanche 22 years ago in Peru has been found
Twenty two years ago, an avalanche buried American climber Bill Stampfl as he made his way up one of the highest peaks in the Andes mountains.
Russia orders the arrest of Alexei Navalny's widow, who lives abroad
A court in Russia ordered the arrest of the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a hearing Tuesday that was conducted in absentia as part of a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on the opposition.
Ukraine will stop Putin, Biden tells NATO in forceful speech
Joe Biden forcefully defended the foreign policy achievements of his presidency as he welcomed NATO member states to a Washington summit on Tuesday that is being closely watched by allies at home and abroad for proof the embattled U.S. president can still lead.
Gypsy Rose Blanchard is pregnant
Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who served eight and a half years for helping to kill her abusive mother, announced Tuesday that she is set to become a mother herself.