Gov Funding

adiantum · #1 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:01 AM

The new government of Australia has just released it's first budget which allocates $2,500 towards a pump.
It's a start & a mighty achievement from the many parents that lobbied.

" After demands from parents, the government has agreed to subsidise the cost of insulin pumps for people aged under 18 with type 1 diabetes from November this year, at a cost of $5.5 million over four years"

fgummett · #2 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:10 AM

Good on them..! Like you say, it's a start... but $5.5 million over four years is really a drop in the bucket compared to the cost of treating the complications of D

Chappo · #3 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:17 AM

Basic maths will show just how awfully bad this funding is, and how discriminatory it will be to obtain one with funding support. There is no policy currently that states pumps will be subsidised by $2500, only the join DA/JDRF Submission. Ontop of this, some pumps will not be supported, and some will be pushed quite hard (look at Levemir/Lantus struggle to get on PBS for reference).

Having said that, let's look at the outright cost of a pump in Australia: average around $8500.

So, $5.5million divided by $8500 = ~600 pumps (administration costs included)

Over 4 years, that means that only 150 pumps will be offered each year if subsidised at full price.

It's a VERY poor policy. Notwithstanding the good vibes of it all, it's not going to do much. The waiting lists will be long and very highly competitive as a result.

The former Liberal Government's promise of $22m alone for Insulin pumps meant four times the amount of pumps would be offered. The ease at which pumps are available through insurance is ridiculous.

This $5.5m over 4 years should be spent on expanding NDSS to fully cover pump consumables just like syringes, insulin pens and needles.

adiantum · #4 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:20 AM

The $5.5million probably seems a pittance to you up the top end but our country only has a population of 21million ( & were full in case everyone wants to come down)

I dont know what % of this are under 18 type1
The gov also donates to the NDSS national diabetes service scheme. This gives us our strips for 1c ea etc

fgummett · #5 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:22 AM

We're only at around 33,262,033 people (according to Statistics Canada...) and we still have plenty of room thanks

adiantum · #6 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:23 AM

Alex do you know how many aussie youths would be wanting pumps?

adiantum · #7 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fgummett

We're only at around 33,262,033 people (according to Statistics Canada...) and we still have plenty of room thanks

Ooooooooooh that sounds like a crowd. Do you bump into each other often

Chappo · #8 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiantum

Alex do you know how many aussie youths would be wanting pumps?

Yes, an absolute ----load, I imagine. Which is why access to this pump program is going to be highly, highly competitive and very discriminatory. It's going to be a bunfight for access to this funding, and the substantial majority are still going to be left with nothing.

However the funding isn't adequate, i believe it could have been better administered into:

1. Regulating Private Healthcare legislation to manditorily cover insulin pumps for youth cover, and
2. Spent the $5.5m on expanding NDSS to further support pump consumables and/or testing strips.

Perhaps we should do a means-test for insulin pumps, too?

adiantum · #9 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chappo

.

However the funding isn't adequate,

I agree but as I said " its a start "

Chappo · #10 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 08:18 PM

Yep, and it has to start someplace. Unfortunately the razor gang will probably cut back this measure in the next year or so.

Also, it's an incremental $5.5m, meaning it is not evenly split over the 4 years.

As for your request for numbers, there are currently 8'665 Type-1 diabetics under 18 in Australia. Of that 8'665, 16% are currently on pumps.

matingara · #11 (**permalink**) 05-13-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiantum

The gov also donates to the NDSS national diabetes service scheme. This gives us our strips for 1c ea etc

IF (and it is a big IF) you can find a Pharmacy that has been accepted to participate in the NDSS!!!

-- Joel.

jacobsam622 · #12 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiantum

The new government of Australia has just released it's first budget which allocates $2,500 towards a pump.
It's a start & a mighty achievement from the many parents that lobbied.

" After demands from parents, the government has agreed to subsidise the cost of insulin pumps for people aged under 18 with type 1 diabetes from November this year, at a cost of $5.5 million over four years"

For a second there I though they were only going to buy one.

ant hill · #13 (**permalink**) 05-17-2008, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chappo

Having said that, let's look at the outright cost of a pump in Australia: average around $8500.

GUAD!!! Well I never. I could never afford that as thank god for the invention of the pens.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chappo

However the funding isn't adequate,

Quote:

Originally Posted by adiantum

I agree but as I said " its a start "

Yeah like a drop in the ocean. What about us Adiantum as I don't have $8.500.00 in my back pocket and insurance in Oz is a joke.