Member for Robertson, Gordon Reid, said Central Coast residents living with Type 1 diabetes will have “new hope and help” with the Federal Government extending subsidised access to Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) products to better manage their blood glucose levels from this month.
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, said Australians over the age of 21 with Type 1 diabetes will be able to access CGM products through their pharmacy, with a co-payment equivalent to $32.50 per month or $390 per year.
These life saving devices were previously costing them up to $5,000 per year.
“The Australian Government is investing an additional $273.1M over four years to deliver our election commitments to better support people living with type 1 diabetes,” Butler said.
“CGM technology is life changing.
“Supporting more people with subsidised CGM products will improve the health and quality of life for tens of thousands of Australians living with type 1 diabetes.”
Reid said it was great news for people with Type 1 diabetes on the Coast.
“CGM products help reduce complications from living with diabetes, and the need to see a doctor or go to hospital,” he said.
“While finger prick blood testing gives patients a glucose reading at a single point in time, CGM gives continuous glucose readings, including during sleep.”
The Government is also delivering on its commitment to expand the eligibility criteria for the separate Insulin Pump Program.
This will provide an additional 35 fully subsidised insulin pumps a year to allow young adults aged 18-21 with Type 1 diabetes from financially disadvantaged families to benefit from the life-changing technology.
“Until now, this program has been limited to children up to the age of 18,” Reid said.
“Again, it is more great news to help people in our community to better manage their condition.”
Central Coast resident, Margaret Sheridan, who has Type 1 diabetes, welcomed the announcement.
“This announcement is brilliant and for people, who like me, are Type 1 diabetics, we will be supported much more when purchasing CGM products at the pharmacy,” she said.
People who are currently eligible for CGM products through the NDSS will continue to receive products free of charge.
This includes children and young adults under 21 with Type 1 diabetes, concession card holders with Type 1 diabetes, and people with Type 1 diabetes who are pregnant, post-pregnancy or trying to become pregnant.
Source:
Media release, Jul 19
Member for Robertson, Gordon Reid