Written answer
Medical Aids and Appliances
The Minister said CGM reimbursement is currently limited to people with type 1 diabetes who required insulin from diagnosis, following a 2023 HIQA assessment and HSE managed access programme. No Irish HTA has assessed CGM for type 2 or other diabetes, so extending coverage, including to LADA patients, lacks supporting cost-effectiveness and budget evidence.
3502. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Health the way in which patients who are diagnosed with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) an autoimmune form of type 1 diabetes, after an initial, and later corrected, type 2 diagnosis can access the continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) sensor reimbursement pathway. [61429/26]
Comment on this
3506. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Minister for Health to review and reform the exclusionary ‘from the outset’ and diabetes-type restriction tied to continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) reimbursement. [61427/26]
Comment on this
3580. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Health if she will launch a HTA of CGM sensors for people with type two diabetes mellitus or other types of diabetes has not been undertaken in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61795/26]
Comment on this
3890. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Health if she will request her Department examine avenues to provide funding for a continuous glucose monitoring device (details supplied) to ensure people with diabetes have access to same. [63334/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 3502, 3506, 3580 and 3890 together.
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems provide an alternative approach to self-monitoring of blood glucose (using blood glucose test strips with an associated blood glucose meter). These CGM systems comprise of sensors, transmitters and a mechanism to display the results (readers/receivers or smart device application).
Under the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the HSE has statutory responsibility for decisions on the pricing and reimbursement of medicines and medical devices. The HSE has advised that the HIQA Rapid HTA of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Adults with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus was published on 29th September 2023.
The HTA recommended the establishment of a single managed access programme for all CGM systems for all individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus regardless of age, noting that such a system would need clearly defined criteria for access. Following on from the recommendations in this HTA, the HSE-MMP, in conjunction with the HSE-PCRS, and with the support of the HSE Chief Clinical Officer, introduced an online reimbursement application system for all CGM sensors on 1st December 2023.
Reimbursement support for CGM sensors at this point in time is based on the HIQA HTA and is for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus regardless of age, who have required insulin from the outset.
To date, a HTA of CGM sensors for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus or other types of diabetes has not been undertaken in Ireland. Therefore, there is limited information to support the extension of reimbursement to these patient groups, including cost-effectiveness assessment and budget impact of same.
The HSE has identified preferred CGM products based on cost-effectiveness to manage this expenditure.
On the 21st of May, The Diabetes Policy and Services Review: A Strategy for Better Care was launched by the Minister for Health.
This is Ireland’s first national strategy for diabetes. It sets out recommendations for action in relation to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, diabetes in pregnancy and paediatric diabetes. The strategy marks a major milestone in diabetes care in Ireland, representing the development of a unified approach to the delivery of diabetes care.