In a continuing series of health-related policy announcements, Saskatchewan Party Leader Scott Moe announced an expansion of support for diabetic medical supplies, including continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps.
“People living with diabetes must cope with a chronic condition, it can be difficult to manage at times, in addition to the health challenges it creates diabetes can also be very costly to manage,” Moe said, noting the Saskatchewan Party government has broadened access to long-acting insulin and supported insulin pumps for people 25 and under.
Moe said, “Today, I am very pleased to announce that a re-elected Saskatchewan Party government will expand eligibility under the Saskatchewan insulin pump program to include all provincial residents regardless of their age. There will be no age restriction at all for this program. Everyone who needs an insulin pump is going to get one and the province is going to cover the cost.
“We expect the expansion of this program will benefit about 400 people across the province.”
He went on, “In addition, Saskatchewan party government is going to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitoring for children and youth under the age of 18.”
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) involves a diabetic wearing a stick-on patch 24 hours a day, with a tiny sensor under the skin. That sensor takes glucose measurements every minute, and that data can be read by a monitor or smartphone. It replaces the painful method of poking one’s finger and bleeding on a test strip multiple times a day.
Moe said, “Parents can monitor their children's glucose levels to make sure everything is okay on an ongoing basis. Parents can even monitor the glucose levels when their child is sleeping. About 600 children in Saskatchewan are expected to benefit from the coverage of CGMs.”
The incremental cost to government is expected to be about $4.6 million, according to Moe. That included an annual ongoing cost of about $2 million per year for expanded insulin pump coverage after slightly more the first two years, and $2.6 million per year for the additional CGM coverage.
The cost of continuous glucose monitoring is roughly $4,400 per patient annually, including devices and sensors. Coverage will not be income tested, just as the insulin pump program is not income tested. For parents who choose not to go with continuous glucose monitoring, but prefer the older system (flash glucose monitoring), they will be able to opt for coverage of that form instead.
Moe linked the ability to pay for such programs to Saskatchewan having a strong economy under a Saskatchewan Party government.
In the first year of the program’s expanded eligibility, 240 new beneficiaries are expected to access the expanded insulin pump program, and another 175 in the second year. Existing patients will be eligible for a new pump every five years. The expansion of the pump program would come into effect following the 2021-22 budget.
Moe notes that, like the previous day’s announcement of expanded support for autism patients, this announcement is a progression. “What we are seeing is a progression of investment in the people of Saskatchewan yesterday in autism, today in diabetes, investment in people really in managing their diabetes and making life more affordable for families across Saskatchewan.
Asked for comment, NDP Leader Ryan Meili responded by email, “It’s good to see Scott Moe finally get around to doing something we’ve been calling for over a year now — but families shouldn’t have to wait for an election to get the support they need. Saskatchewan people deserve a government that’s not just going to pretend to care about health care when it’s convenient for them, just to go back to cutting again after an election. People deserve better.”
