The Alberta government has suspended its plan to end its insulin pump therapy program following widespread reactions from diabetics and their national advocacy group.
“We are pausing implementation,” Health Minister Jason Kopping told reporters in parliament on Thursday, minutes before announcing his decision in the House of Representatives.
“We will not move forward on August 1 and we will not move forward until I feel completely comfortable that we will not leave anyone else in the program,” Koping said.
Koping announced on May 2 that the program would end on August 1.
After that date, most of Albert’s 4,000 diabetics, who relied on the program to cover pumps, equipment and supplies, were expected to rely on their employer’s health benefit plans or Alberta’s Blue Cross to help pay for the devices.
The government said the move would allow Albert residents to have access to more advanced insulin pumps.
Consumers greeted the message with anger and horror. Some said their compensation plans did not cover the devices or put a ceiling on the annual coverage. Others said they could not afford the premiums and surcharges charged by Blue Cross.
City halls are coming, Koping says
Koping apologized in parliament on Thursday for the “confusion” caused by the May 2nd announcement. He said the government plans to keep town halls and talk to anyone who uses the program to ensure no one is left behind.
“There has to be no choice between being able to manage this chronic disease and then putting food on the table,” Koping said.
Leslie Thompson is one of the organizers of Pump 4 Life, which is organizing an email campaign to tell the government to keep the program.
Thompson has been using an insulin pump for 20 years. She said the campaign prompted 3,300 people to send emails to Kopping, Prime Minister Jason Kenny and NDP health critic David Shepard within 48 hours.
Thompson said Koping’s announcement was a great first step.
“We are excited,” she said. “But we want the insulin pump program to be fully restored.”
Earlier this week, Diabetes Canada sent a letter to Koping asking him to keep the program, which the province introduced in 2013.
Russell Williams, vice president of the National Advocacy Organization, said Diabetes Canada received “many calls and emails” from distressed Albert residents who could not afford premiums and co-payments for Blue Cross.
“This will leave them no choice but to resume several daily insulin injections and effectively compromise their ability to manage their diabetes,” Williams wrote.
“In some cases, this can force Albert residents to make a difficult choice between paying for the necessary medicines, devices and supplies for diabetes or paying for needs such as rent or food.
“Access that causes undue financial and emotional burden to Canadians who lose valuable coverage is problematic at best and unethical at worst,” Williams added.
“We urge you to review these changes to the program as announced.”
Koping said he spoke with Diabetes Canada on Thursday morning and invited them to participate in the consultation.
Thompson said the government has already heard how vital insulin pumps are to the overall well-being and quality of life of diabetics. She said funding for devices and supplies protects people from hospitals.
“It’s like a pancreas in your pocket,” she said. “You can control your diabetes in real time.”
Shepard said he would closely monitor the process of consulting with the government.
“It’s unfortunate that they stumbled upon this and tried to carry out a plan that could have been so disastrous for thousands of Alberts, but I’m glad to see that they are taking a step back,” he said.
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