The BC government has announced that its PharmaCare program will begin covering the costs of the Dexcom G6 continuous glucose monitor (CGM), an expensive and life-changing medical device for diabetes patients.
The Dexcom G6 CGM eliminates the need for finger pokes to draw blood, and instead monitors blood sugar levels in real-time through a sensor attached to the skin that transmits data to an app. It can also alert users when blood sugar levels are either too high or too low through push notifications, avoiding potentially dangerous and life-threatening situations.
It is estimated that approximately 20,000 diabetes patients per year will benefit from this coverage in the first three years.
To claim coverage, a patient’s health care provider must complete a Special Authority Request form and issue them a 12-month prescription for the device. The patient must also be enrolled in one of the following plans:
- Fair PharmaCare
- Plan C (Income Assistance)
- Plan F (At Home Program)
- Plan W (First Nations Health Benefit)
See the official news release from the Government of BC for further details.