The Government of Alberta recently changed its reimbursement policy to increase access to diabetes supplies, including needles, syringes, lancets, blood glucose, blood ketone and urine testing strips. The new policy came into effect August 1, 2021. Plan members on insulin are eligible for coverage up to $2,400 each benefit year, a much-improved change from the original $600 per year. Previously, people who were managing their diabetes with medications other than insulin and/or healthy behaviours were not reimbursed for any of their supplies. Now, based on their regimen, they will qualify for $160 to $320 annually.
The new policy now aligns with Diabetes Canada’s minimum standards for coverage of blood glucose test strips. Alberta Health also set quantity limits on blood glucose test strips for the low-income programs that meet or exceed Diabetes Canada’s minimum recommendations.
“We are very pleased the government has made these critical enhancements to support Albertans living with diabetes,” says Joan King, Director of Government Relations, West, for Diabetes Canada. “For the past 10 years, diabetes advocates have been working hard to inform elected officials and policymakers of the gap in access to diabetes supplies. Diabetes Canada thanks the many dedicated volunteers for raising their voices and sharing stories of their lived experience that led to the recent expansion of financial coverage.”
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin. But insulin is not a cure, and we are not at the finish line. “We can’t wait another 100 years to end diabetes and while researchers work towards the next break-through, we must continue improving timely and equitable access to diabetes supplies, medications and devices,” says King.
Diabetes Canada hopes the federal government’s recent announcement in support of a nation-wide diabetes framework will help the government of Alberta develop a comprehensive provincial strategy using the principles of Diabetes 3600.