Good news: insulin pumps will be reimbursed to all patients by health insurance funds
Access to medical supplies for patients with diabetes is improving. As of 1 April, all patients with type 1 diabetes will be reimbursed for the cost of insulin pumps from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF), reports the National Helath Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health (NHIF).
Previously, the CHIF reimbursed insulin pump rental costs for people with type 1 diabetes up to the age of 24 and for pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant, also patients on the waiting list for pancreatic islet transplants. This has been a considerable financial burden for other people for whose treatment of this illness at home these expensive medical supplies are vital.
„We are pleased to announce that from now on all patients with type 1 diabetes, regardless of their age, who are unable to purchase or rent insulin pumps on their own, will be able to benefit from the state's support and improve their quality of life,“ says Giedrius Baranauskas, Head of the Medical Device Reimbursement Division at the NHIF.
According to him, after the new legal regulation comes into force on 1 April, patients will be reimbursed for renting two types of insulin pumps. These are insulin pumps with the function of glycaemic assessment (reimbursable monthly basic rental price – EUR 137.41) and insulin pumps with the function of glycaemic assessment using an integrated sensor for continuous glucose measurement and stopping the insulin injection in case of a drop in glycaemia (reimbursable monthly basic rental price – EUR 449.50).
The rental costs of these medical devices will be reimbursed 100 % by the CHIF. The reimbursement of insulin pump rental costs also includes single-use disposable interchangeable set of parts needed to inject insulin subcutaneously.
„This innovation is expected to benefit around 2,000 patients with type 1 diabetes who were previously unable to benefit from the reimbursement of insulin pump rental. It is estimated that together they will save half a million euros every month. So this will be a really significant financial contribution to the households of these patients,“ stressed Baranauskas.
This year's CHIF will provide almost EUR 6.9 million for the rental of insulin pumps. This is EUR 4.6 million more than last year.
According to doctors, an insulin pump helps people with type 1 diabetes to get closer to the quality of life of having a healthy pancreas. The pump delivers a small amount of insulin at regular intervals around the clock, plus an additional amount with meals. For patients who need to use insulin, it helps to significantly reduce the number of insulin injections (pricks) and allows them to live a full life, reducing the fluctuations in glucose that put them at greater risk of complications.
As a reminder, insulin pump rental costs are reimbursed to people with compulsory health insurance who need them for home healthcare. The appropriateness of such treatment is determined by a medical consilium from a tertiary care institution providing inpatient and outpatient paediatric and adult endocrinology services. It includes at least one endocrinologist or paediatric endocrinologist.
After a positive decision by the medical consilium, patients wishing to rent an insulin pump must apply to a company that has a contract with the NHIF to reimburse the cost of renting the medical devices necessary for home healthcare. The company will sign a contract with the patient for the issuance of the insulin pump, the warranty, ongoing maintenance and the supply of spare parts. For a list of insulin pump rental companies that have contracts with the NHIF, see here.
The situation of people with diabetes in Lithuania is constantly improving. From July this year, reimbursement of glucose measurement sensors is planned for all patients with type 1 diabetes, with no age limit.
(Piktochart photo)
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Last updated: 19-04-2022
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