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A provincial program that provided 16,000 low-income diabetics with funds for medical supplies was cut in the latest provincial budget, leaving recipients wondering if they’ll be eligible for coverage elsewhere.

The Alberta Monitoring for Health Program handed out approximately $4.5 million each year to help diabetics cover the cost of items such as test strips to measure blood glucose levels. It is being discontinued as of June 30.

Edmonton resident Paul Ferguson, 73, noted letters saying the program was ending were sent after a cost-cutting provincial budget.

“I thought, ‘You (have) got to take it from me? You can’t get it from (the) oil companies?’ ” said Ferguson, who has Type 2 diabetes and takes insulin pills. He said he uses a test strip once per day.

“What concerns me is that I’m a senior on fixed income, living in subsidized housing. Obviously, it’s going to be a real hardship if I have to start paying for this stuff.”

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The 4,000 diabetics in the program who use insulin will be eligible for coverage through other programs, said Steve Buick, spokesman for Health Minister Stephen Mandel. The other 12,000 people who manage their diabetes through oral drugs or through diet and exercise will not be eligible.

Buick said research into best practices for those patients has changed.

“The evidence just doesn’t support home testing for diabetics managing the less serious form of the disease who are not taking insulin. We’re dropping our funding for this program simply because there isn’t clinical benefit for people who are not taking insulin,” he said.

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The following is a list of alternative programs for which you may be eligible:

Alberta Adult Health Benefit Program – covers qualifying individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 years, for further information please call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre, 1-877-644-9992 or in Edmonton phone 780-644-9992;
Alberta Child Health Benefit Program – covers qualifying children and youth under the age of 18 years, or up to age 20 years of age if living at home and attending high school. For further information please call Alberta Supports Contact Centre, 1-877-644-9992 or in Edmonton phone 780-644-9992;
Alberta Seniors Benefit Program – covers qualifying individuals 65 years of age or older. For further information please call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre, 1-877-644-9992 or in Edmonton phone 780-644-9992;
Alberta Blue Cross Non-Group Coverage – is available to all Alberta residents under 65 years of age and their dependants. Subsidized rates are available to those who qualify. For further information please call toll-free 1-800-661-6995;
Insulin Pump Therapy Program – provides funding for the cost of insulin pumps and pump supplies for Alberta residents with Type 1 Diabetes that meet eligibility and clinical criteria. For further information please call Health Link Alberta, 1-866-408-5465, in Calgary phone 403-943-5465 or in Edmonton phone 780-408-5465.
- See more at: https://www.diabetes.ca/in-your-community/local-programs-events/regional-events-programs/alberta-events/alberta-monitoring-for-health-amfh-program#sthash.bQKFl5qu.dpuf