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SA for Insulin Pumps

Last updated on July 24, 2024

Instructions

  • Requests must be completed by an endocrinologist or a specialist physician with experience in managing insulin pump therapy.
  • The physician should complete HLTH 5375 - PharmaCare Special Authority Request: Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion (PDF, 473KB) form for initial and subsequent/renewal coverage.
  • Coverage is provided for one insulin pump every five years.
  • If a patient's current pump was not covered by PharmaCare, coverage of a subsequent pump will be considered if the patient’s existing pump is more than four years old and the manufacturer's warranty has expired.

Additional information: Pamphlets for patients (available in 15 languages)

Product

Insulin pump (continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion)

Special Authority Criteria

Approval Period

Initial pump:

The patient has type 1 diabetes or another form of diabetes requiring insulin.

AND

The patient/family is checking blood glucose at least 4 times per day and recording the results.

AND

The patient/family agrees to comprehensive and age-appropriate diabetes education by an interdisciplinary diabetes healthcare team and commits to regular follow up.

AND

The patient has frequent unpredictable hypoglycemic episodes.

OR

The patient has frequent unpredictable diabetic ketoacidosis episodes.

OR

The patient has unpredictable swings in blood glucose.

If approved, the Special Authority coverage is active for six months. The patient must obtain their pump within six months of receiving Special Authority coverage.

Subsequent pump or renewal:

The patient has type 1 diabetes or another form of diabetes requiring insulin.

AND

The patient/family agrees to ongoing diabetes education.

AND

The patient’s A1c is less than or equal to 9.0% on two occasions: one within 1 month prior to application and another 4–6 months prior.

AND

The patient has had no more than one diabetic ketoacidosis episode in the past year.

Special Authority coverage renewal for a subsequent pump will only be considered once every five years.

Practitioner Exemptions

  • None

Special Authority Request Form(s)