Home
Diabetes sufferers who rely on monitoring their blood sugar levels with test strips could reportedly be forced to endure a rise of 50 times what they usually pay, after the federal government removed a subsidy.
The government removed the subsidy on the blood glucose test strips for people with type two diabetes who are not insulin dependent effective from July 1, seeing the prise rise for a box of 100 strips from $1.20 to $60, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
There will be a six-month transition period for those who are not insulin dependent and currently using the strips.
After the six-month period, patients can access the subsidy if they have a prescription from their doctor deeming their use necessary.
The government followed the recommendation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee which found that there was little evidence that the test strips improved glucose control or long-term complications.
Diabetes Australia chief executive Greg Johnson told the Sydney Morning Herald that the changes “sends the wrong message”.
“If the government wants people to take responsibility and it wants them to look after themselves, you've got to give them access to these things,” Mr Johnson said.
“The risk is that some people who no longer have access, their diabetes management will suffer and that may have a cost to the health system in the future."
Diabetic Graeme Macey said the jump in costs was a major blow for people who rely on them to keep their condition under control.
“These are essential for us,” he told the newspaper.
Mr Macey said he controls his blood sugars through testing before and after meals “because I’m in the lucky group that’s not severely affected yet”.
The changes will go through a six-month transition period.
http://www.9news.com.au/health/2016/07/17/14/31/controlled-diabetics-forced-to-pay-50-times-more-for-test-strips-after-government-removes-subsidy?
The government removed the subsidy on the blood glucose test strips for people with type two diabetes who are not insulin dependent effective from July 1, seeing the prise rise for a box of 100 strips from $1.20 to $60, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
There will be a six-month transition period for those who are not insulin dependent and currently using the strips.
After the six-month period, patients can access the subsidy if they have a prescription from their doctor deeming their use necessary.
The government followed the recommendation of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee which found that there was little evidence that the test strips improved glucose control or long-term complications.
Diabetes Australia chief executive Greg Johnson told the Sydney Morning Herald that the changes “sends the wrong message”.
“If the government wants people to take responsibility and it wants them to look after themselves, you've got to give them access to these things,” Mr Johnson said.
“The risk is that some people who no longer have access, their diabetes management will suffer and that may have a cost to the health system in the future."
Diabetic Graeme Macey said the jump in costs was a major blow for people who rely on them to keep their condition under control.
“These are essential for us,” he told the newspaper.
Mr Macey said he controls his blood sugars through testing before and after meals “because I’m in the lucky group that’s not severely affected yet”.
The changes will go through a six-month transition period.
http://www.9news.com.au/health/2016/07/17/14/31/controlled-diabetics-forced-to-pay-50-times-more-for-test-strips-after-government-removes-subsidy?
