Funding a pump clinic — ASN Events

Funding a pump clinic (#26)

Tim Jones 1
  1. Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Telethon Kids Institute & Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth, WA, Australia

Rapid developments in the technological approach to treating insulin requiring diabetes offer the potential to improve outcomes and reduce the burden of care. The past two decades have seen remarkable  advances in insulin pumps, glucose sensing, partially automated insulin delivery systems and a variety of downloads and other applications. Patients, their families , the community, schools, diabetes health care providers, regulatory bodies and funders have all been faced with the challenge of incorporating these technologies  successfully into daily use. For diabetes technologies to date, the health care provider is critical and is required to become expert in their use to be able to support patients to gain the most benefit. This task has been shown to be more time intense for the health care provider for technologies than conventional non-technological  treatments. A team of experts is optimal including specialist dietetic, nursing and medical personnel along with psychosocial support. The current health care system in Australia has a mixed and unplanned approach to funding such teams and technologies.  Public State run services increasingly do not prioritise management of chronic disease and private and Medicare based funding is often inadequate to fund a complete team. The devices themselves are also funded from a variety of sources including Commonwealth, philanthropic, patients and private insurance. Pump supplies are funded by the Commonwealth but not pumps and it is likely that continuous glucose sensors may also receive Commonwealth funding for some patients.  There are significant inequities in access to technologies and inadequate funding results in poorer outcomes from an approach the treatment that can revolutionise care if done well: a consistent sustainable national model is urgently required.

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