Unit 5 Chronic Disease Tagging Blog
Chronic Disease Blog Between Provinces
#5: Diabetes funding in Alberta by shandelgr - Sunday, 4 November 2018, 8:19 PM MST
According to the Alberta Diabetes Foundation, there are approximately one million Albertans who have diabetes and pre-diabetes, with 1 in 20 people currently living with diabetes and an estimated 130,000 undiagnosed cases. Diabetes is a chronic condition that reduces lifespans by 5-15 years with rates expecting to rise 50% by 2026. Alberta Diabetes Link reports that diabetes is more prevalent in men than women, and 90-95% of cases are type 2. According to the financial budget repots for 2017/2018, The Government of Alberta had budgeted $305,000 towards health education and research, and had spent $298,160. There are several sources of funding for diabetes research in Alberta:
Funding for Diabetes in Alberta:
Alberta Diabetes Foundation:
Holds charity events and accepts donations, and allocates these funds to innovative research for the prevention and treatment of of all forms of diabetes. They disperse the fundings when and where it is needed the most, and helps fund projects that may otherwise be stalled or cancelled.
Alberta Innovates:
Alberta Innovates supplies funding for health research that focuses on enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the health system, improving health outcomes, and ensuring advances from research translates into technologies, tools, and policies for better health.
Canadian Diabetes Association:
The Canadian Diabetes Association is a charitable organization that has awarded more than $130 million in research grants, awards and partnerships to diabetes research.
Novo Nordisk Alberta Diabetes Fund
Private Public Philanthropic Partnership between Novo Nordisk, the University Hospital Foundation, and the Government of Alberta's Ministry of Economic Development and Trade established the Novo Nordisk Alberta Diabetes Fund that will focuses on proving funding for:
1. Improving diabetes-obesity interventions and management in the community setting for the most vulnerable patients, through primary care networks
2. Enhancing diabetes-obesity interventions and management for seniors, to support independent living
3. Improving acute care for patients presenting in hospital with diabetes
Alberta Health Services
There is funding available for researchers through the Seed Grant Program which typically offers $10,000 grants to four independent researchers per ear who focus on diabetes, obesity, and nutrition.
Alberta Diabetes Institute:
The Alberta Diabetes Institute is a research facility on the University of Alberta campus in Edmonton that offers state-of-the-art facilities in support of research that includes cellular and molecular studies, preclinical/clinical research, population health and health outcomes studies. These research initiatives have a goal to lower the rates/cure diabetes in Alberta. Support for diabetes research at the Alberta Diabetes Institute comes from numerous sources including federal and provincial granting agencies, charitable organizations, corporations (such as Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Research Fund) and individual philanthropists. Funding for researchers as part of the Alberta Diabetes Institute are also available through the University of Alberta, such as: Graduate Student Awards, Pilot Project Grants, and Summer Studentship Award Competitions. The strategic Plan for 2018-2022 can be found here
References
Alberta Diabetes Foundation. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.albertadiabetesfoundation.com/about
Alberta Diabetes Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://www.ualberta.ca/alberta-diabetes/about
Alberta Diabetes Link. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://albertadiabeteslink.ca/professionals/alberta-statistics/
Alberta Government. (2018). Health: Annual Report 2017-18. Retrieved from: https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/4bb6bc99-ab59-47fd-a633-dfc27d7a049e/resource/94b95989-e03a-4acc-8bf9-f080f911abf0/download/health-annual-report-2017-2018.pdf
Alberta Innovates. (n.d.). Retrieved from: https://albertainnovates.ca/funding-health-innovations/health-research-funding/
Canadian Diabetes Association. (2016). Diabetes Research in Alberta Funded by the Canadian Diabetes Association. Retrieved from: https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/0c6567ff-2d84-41a0-b16e-c9b732e6b8f7/cda-diabetes-research-in-alberta.pdf.aspx
University Hospital Foundation. (n.d.). A Major Partnership to Tackle Diabetes. Retrieved from: https://www.universityhospitalfoundation.ab.ca/strategic-partnerships/novo-nordisk
Re: #5: Diabetes funding in Alberta by lorrainebr13 - Sunday, 4 November 2018, 10:21 PM MST
HI Shandel
I wanted to respond to your post by including some of the funding for diabetes in BC.
Funding for Diabetes in BC
Approximately 29 per cent or 1.4 million people in British Columbia are living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes puts people at higher risk of serious and costly complications, including heart attack, stroke, vision loss, kidney disease and amputation. This chronic disease costs $418 million a year provincially, and complications such as diabetic ulcers to the feet alone have been estimated to cost $98-120 million (Diabetes Canada, 2017).
Diabetes Canada (2017) states there are three major areas of support needed for those living with diabetes in BC. These are: expanding financial coverage for insulin pumps to all individuals with type 1 diabetes who are medically eligible, regardless of age; broaden PharmaCare coverage for effective diabetes medications; and committing to public funding of offloading devices and foot care visits by specialists and improve screening for diabetic foot ulcers and education.
BC PharmaCare - FairPharmaCare Plan assists BC residents living with diabetes to cover the costs of prescription medications and supplies through BC FairPharmaCare and other specialty health plans (BC Ministry of Health, 2013).
BC Children's Hospital has received grants for research into Type 1 Diabetes. One grant will fund a first-of-its-kind clinical trial that will recruit Type 1 diabetes patients in British Columbia. "The Stem Cell Network (SCN)'s funds originate from the federal government's $12 million, two-year investment in stem cell research, announced in March. The grants were announced Nov. 24 in Ottawa by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, federal Minister of Science" (BC Children's Research Institute, 2017).
There are various supporters and fund-raising events that support Camp Kakhamela for children living with Type 1 Diabetes. This camp is a funding priority for the Canadian Diabetes Association. "Camp Kakhamela, named after "the hunt" in a local Aboriginal language, was founded in 1962 by Dr. John Hunt. Since 1993, Camp Kakhamela has enjoyed a partnership with the Greater Vancouver YMCA's Camp Elphinston" (Diabetes Canada, 2017).
References
BC Children's Hospital. (2016). Search Results | BC Children's Hospital Research Institute. Retrieved from https://www.bcchr.ca/results?keys=grants
BC Ministry of Health. (2013, September). Financial Assistance Programs for People Living with Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.ca/CDA/media/documents/diabetes-and-you/know-your-rights/british-columbia-financial-assistance-programs.pdf
Diabetes Canada. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/8e38f0cd-a2c4-4c17-a7df-9a2b385df961/sv-2017-Diabetes-in-BC_final_HQ.aspx
Re: #5: Diabetes funding in Alberta by jeanettebu - Monday, 5 November 2018, 11:01 AM MST
Hi,
I will take this opportunity to speak to how the Ontario government (MOHLTC) supports Diabetes care and treatment in Ontario.
As noted in my post, DM is one of the 3 most prevalent chronic diseases in my region. Approximately 965,100 Ontarian's 12 years and over are have been diagnosed with diabetes, this is about 8% of the population in Ontario (Statistics Canada, 2018).
The MOHLTC which is responsible to provide health funding in Ontario, have identified several initiatives to address diabetes management and prevent long-term complications. I will speak to four of their initiatives:
1. Pediatric Diabetes Initiative for Children with type 1 diabetes
Focus is on diabetes education, early intervention and prevention of complications
This initiative was established in 2001 and provides funding for creating over 35 programs across Ontario and supports a pediatric insulin pump program
2. The Diabetes Complications Prevention Strategy (DCPS) provides based-level education programs in Ontario. DCPS has provided funding to over 150 hospitals and community-based health programs. Goal to educate to reduce diabetes-related complications
3. Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative
Sets out long-term approach to diabetes prevention, care and treatment, education, research and care coordination.
In 2001, additional funding was allocated to eight Aboriginal Provincial/Territorial Organizations to establish front-line education services in their respective communities.
In 2006, additional funding was allocated to deliver an annual diabetes program for Aboriginal diabetes workers to administer foot care programs in Ontario
4. Assisted Devices Program
The government of Ontario provides funding for diabetes equipment and supplies for individuals requiring insulin under the Assistive Devices Program (ADP), to give people increased independence and control over their lives.
ADP's Insulin Syringes for Seniors Program provides an annual grant of $170 to diabetic seniors receiving financial assistance for insulin through the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program.
The ADP provides 100 per cent funding of an approved price ($6300) for certain insulin pumps and a yearly grant of $2400 for related supplies through the Insulin Pump and Supplies Program for people with type 1 diabetes who meet ADP eligibility criteria.
The program also pays 75 per cent of the cost for related supplies such as monitor testing strips and bloodletting devices (lancets) up to a maximum of $820 per year.
ADP covers over 8,000 separate pieces of equipment or supplies in the following categories: prostheses; wheelchairs/mobility aids and specialized seating systems; enteral feeding supplies; monitors and test strips for insulin-dependent diabetics (through an agreement with the Canadian Diabetes Association); hearing aids; insulin pumps and supplies; respiratory equipment; orthotic devices (braces), pressure modification devices for burns and lymphedema (garments and pumps); visual and communication aids; home oxygen therapy.
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) (2018). Preventing and Managing Chronic Disease-Diabetes Program. Retrieved from: https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/cdpm/diabetes.aspx
Statistics Canada (2018). Diabetes by Age Group. Retrieved from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=1310009607&pickMembers%5B0%5D=1.7&pickMembers%5B1%5D=3.1
Re: #5: Diabetes funding in Alberta by shandelgr - Monday, 5 November 2018, 8:44 PM MST
Hello,
It was very interesting to read about the funding in Ontario! An interesting difference to point out, is that in Alberta, there is not co-paw for diabetic supplies, but there is only a $600 max per year per patient towards these supplies, versus the 75% coverage up to a maximum of $820 as you noted in Ontario (Diabetes Charter for Canada, 2015). These supplies in Alberta include: blood glucose test strips, urine test strips, lancets, syringes and needles. In comparison to the seniors benefits in Ontario (an annual grant of $170), Alberta requires seniors to make a copayment of 30%, up to a maximum of $25 per prescription, but does not set a limit for total yearly costs. Interestingly, there is also coverage in Alberta for palliative care, in which the same copayment is required as in the seniors benefit, but sets a cap so once $1000 in copayments have been reached, Alberta Health assumes all remaining eligible drug prescription costs. A more comprehensive list of coverage can be found here. Alberta Health also supplies funding for insulin pumps, but there is no set dollar amount for coverage, as specific in Ontario. In Alberta, whatever any existing health insurance does not cover, the government will cover the cost of the rest. They do note however that all insulin pumps have to be provided through specific companies, and reimbursement will only happen directly with manufacturers/pharmacies, and will not reimburse patients who purchase anything themselves. A full list of eligibility and coverage for insulin pumps can be found here.
References
Alberta Health. (2013). Insulin Pump Therapy Program- Eligibility Criteria. Retrieved from: https://www.health.alberta.ca/documents/Insulin-Pump-Therapy-Program-Eligibility.pdf
Diabetes Charter for Canada. (2015). Alberta. Retrieved from: https://www.diabetes.ca/getmedia/7c3e1b2b-9dca-44df-bfd2-2e9c2d99e7e2/2015-financial-coverage-charts-alberta.pdf.aspx