08 Nov Canadian Limits on Glucose Strips Did Not Impair Diabetes Control
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Tara Gomes
Tara Gomes, MHSc
Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St Michael’s Hospital,
The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy
Department of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation
University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: In August 2013, the Ontario government introduced reimbursement limits for blood glucose test strips. Subsequent research has suggested that the provincial government saved $24 million in the first year after implementing this quantity limit policy. This study investigated whether these quantity limits led to any change in diabetes-related patient outcomes.
We found that limiting the number of blood glucose test strips reimbursed by the government to levels recommended by the Canadian Diabetes Association had to no change in diabetes control (measured as rates of emergency department visits for hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, and mean HbA1c) in the 1.5 years after implementation. Similarly, there was no worsening of patient outcomes in a subgroup of individuals who had been frequent users of test strips prior to the policy being announced.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: These findings are reassuring, as they suggest that a government reimbursement policy aligned with current evidence led to considerable cost savings, with no immediate impact on patient outcomes.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: These results are based on patterns observed in the first 1.5 years after the government introduced these quantity limits. We recommend that these outcomes continue to be monitored to ensure that there are no longer term consequences of this restricted access to test strips.
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Citation:
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Last Updated on November 8, 2016 by Marie Benz MD FAAD