Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Levels: Evaluating the Impact of a Policy of Quantity Limits on Test-Strip Use and Costs

The Impact of Blood Glucose Test Strips Reimbursement Limits on Utilization, Costs, and Health-care Utilization in British Columbia

OBJECTIVE

People living with diabetes and not using insulin may not derive clinically significant benefit from routine glucose self-monitoring. As a result, in 2015, British Columbia (BC) introduced quantity restrictions for blood glucose test strips (BGTS) coverage in public plans. We studied the impact of this policy on utilization, costs, and health-care utilization.

METHODS

We identified a cohort of adults (≥18 years old) with diabetes between 2013 and 2019. Using BC's administrative data, we studied utilization and costs among individuals with at least one PharmaCare-eligible BGTS claim. Using interrupted time-series analysis, we studied cost savings and determined the level of policy adherence. In addition, we investigated longitudinal changes in all-cause and diabetes-specific physician visits, all-cause hospitalizations, and health-care spending in the 3 to 5 years after policy implementation.

RESULTS

Over the study period, 279.7 million BGTS were eligible for PharmaCare coverage, on which the government spent $124.3 million. After policy implementation, we observed an immediate decline in average utilization and PharmaCare expenditure on BGTS, leading to an estimated $44.6 million in savings between 2015 and 2019 (95% confidence interval $16.9 to $72.3 million). We found no association between the policy's implementation and health services utilization or overall health-care spending over the long term.

CONCLUSIONS

Restricting reimbursement for BGTS in BC resulted in significant cost savings without any attendant increase in health services utilization over the subsequent 5 years. This disinvestment freed up resources that could be channeled toward other interventions.

Prevalence of prescribed opioid claims among persons with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction in Ontario, Canada: a population-based retrospective cohort study

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the prevalence and to identify predictors of prescription opioid use among persons with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction within 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation.

SETTING

Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using administrative data to determine predictors of receiving prescription opioids during the 1 year after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation among persons with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction between April 1, 2004 and March 31, 2015. We modeled the outcome using a Poisson multivariable regression and reported relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

We identified 3468 individuals with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction (50% male) with 67% who were aged ≥66. Over half of the cohort (60%) received opioids during the observation period. Older adults (≥66 years old) were significantly more likely to experience comorbidities (p < 0.05) but less likely to be dispensed opioids following rehabilitation discharge. Being female, previous opioid use before rehabilitation, experiencing lower continuity of care, increasing comorbidity level, low functional status, and having a previous diagnosis of osteoarthritis or mental illness were significant risk factors for receiving opioids after discharge, as shown in a multivariable analysis. Increasing length of rehabilitation stay and higher income were protective against opioid receipt after discharge.

CONCLUSION

Many individuals with nontraumatic spinal cord dysfunction in Ontario are prescribed opioids after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. This may be problematic due to the number of severe complications that may arise from opioid use and their use in this population warrants future research.

Impact of Clinical Practice Guidelines on Blood Glucose Test Strip Prescription Rates in Manitoba and Saskatchewan (Canada): An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis

OBJECTIVES

Our aim in this study was to assess the impact of the Diabetes Canada Dissemination & Implementation strategy on population-level prescription rates of blood glucose test strips.

METHODS

We extracted all diabetes-related drugs and test strip claims in Manitoba and Saskatchewan between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2015 from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Prescription Drug Utilization Information System. The primary outcome was the proportion of the cohort in each quarter who had been dispensed strips in accordance with the Diabetes Canada 2013 guidelines. We conducted an interrupted time-series analysis examining prescribing trends overall and by drug groups.

RESULTS

The overall average sample size per quarter was 57,576 (standard deviation [SD]=12,320) and 49,533 (SD=10,206) individuals; the average age was 62.1 (SD=0.3) and 63.8 (SD=0.3) years, and the average proportion of total beneficiaries in the sample was 12.7% (SD=1.9%) and 12.6% (SD=1.7%) for Manitoba and Saskatchewan, respectively. On average preintervention, 27.9% (SD=0.68%, Manitoba) and 31.9% (SD=0.73%, Saskatchewan) of the sampled patients used strips according to the guidelines. On average postintervention, 26.5% (SD=0.29%, Manitoba) and 30.6% (SD=0.53%, Saskatchewan) of the patients used strips according to the guidelines. None of the interrupted time-series models reached statistical significance (p values ranging from 0.44 to 0.98 for Manitoba and 0.13 to 0.81 for Saskatchewan, depending on drug group).

CONCLUSIONS

The guideline and its Dissemination & Implementation strategy did not change strip prescribing. Potential reasons include complexity of the recommendations, lack of penetrance to primary care physicians and/or disagreement with recommendations.

Impact of delisting high-strength opioid formulations from a public drug benefit formulary on opioid utilization in Ontario, Canada

PURPOSE

High-strength opioid formulations were delisted (removed) from Ontario's public drug formulary in January 2017, except for palliative patients. We evaluated the impact of this policy on opioid utilization and dosing.

METHODS

We conducted a longitudinal study among patients receiving publicly funded, high-strength opioids from August 2016 to July 2017. The primary outcome measure was weekly median daily opioid dose (in milligrams of morphine or equivalent; MME) of (1) publicly funded and (2) all opioid prescriptions irrespective of funding source, evaluated using interrupted time series analyses and stratified by palliative care status.

RESULTS

Following policy implementation, the weekly median daily dose of publicly funded opioids decreased immediately among non-palliative patients by 10 MME (95% confidence limit [CL], -16.8 to -3.1) from a pre-intervention dose of 424.5 MME (95% CL, 417.8-431.2) and fell gradually among palliative patients by 3.9 MME per week (95% CL, -5.5 to -2.3) from a pre-intervention dose of 450.1 MME (95% CL, 432.5-467.7). In contrast, among all opioid prescriptions, gradual reductions in weekly median daily doses were observed only for non-palliative patients, which decreased by 0.7 MME per week (95% CL, -1.3 to -0.2) from a pre-intervention dose of 426.2 MME (95% CL, 420.9-431.5).

CONCLUSION

The delisting of publicly-funded, high-strength opioids was accompanied by changes in funding source and small reductions in the weekly median daily doses dispensed. Although observed dose reductions of less than 1 MME weekly are likely not clinically relevant, safety implications of these changes require further monitoring.

Physicians' Views of Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Not on Insulin

This qualitative study examines to what extent and why physicans still prescribe self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) in patients with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes (NITT2D) when the evidence shows it increases cost without improving hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c), general well being, or health-related quality of life. Semistructured phone interviews with 17 primary care physicians indicated that the majority continue to recommend routine self-monitoring of blood glucose due to a compelling belief in its ability to promote the lifestyle changes needed for glycemic control. Targeting physician beliefs about the effectiveness of self-monitoring of blood glucose, and designing robust interventions accordingly, may help reduce this practice.

Patterns, Policy and Appropriateness: A 12-Year Utilization Review of Blood Glucose Test Strip Use in Insulin Users

OBJECTIVES

Considerable attention has been paid to the rising costs of the use of blood glucose test strips (BGTS). Insulin users have generally been treated as a single homogeneous group, resulting in policies that cap usage (8.2 strips/day) in provincial drug insurance programs. The objective of this study was to conduct a utilization review of BGTS by insulin users and to evaluate use patterns against current insulin use patterns and BGTS policy.

METHODS

BGTS usage was examined in a cohort of insulin users with type 1 and type 2 diabetes over a 12-year period (2001 to 2013) using the population-based administrative data in Manitoba, Canada.

RESULTS

Total BGTS strip use increased by 121%, from $4.3 to $9.5 million. However, the number of insulin users also increased by 115%. Use has been stable at 1.5 strips per day per person since 2004 by insulin users with type 2 diabetes but has risen from 1.9 to 3.0 strips per day per person in those with type 1 diabetes. Mean daily test strip use was below the number of daily tests recommended for patients using insulin as per the current Canadian guidelines, with 11% and 15% of insulin users with type 1 and type 2 diabetes not claiming any BGTS use and a further 15% (type 1) and 28% (type 2) using fewer than 1 strip per day.

CONCLUSIONS

BGTS use per insulin user has been stable for most of the past decade, and the vast majority of use falls well below provincial insurance caps. The amount of low-level testing (0 to <1 strip/day) suggests that greater attention should be directed to ensuring a safe level of testing by all insulin users.

Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose: Impact of Quantity Limits in Public Drug Formularies on Provincial Costs Across Canada

OBJECTIVES

For most patients with diabetes, routine use of blood glucose test strips (BGTS) has not been shown to be beneficial, yet the economic implications of broad publicly funded reimbursement for BGTS are substantial. We assessed the potential impact of BGTS quantity limits on utilization and costs for 6 publicly funded drug plans across Canada.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analysis was conducted in 6 provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island) for patients who received at least 1 prescription for BGTS in 2014 through the public drug program. We determined the number of BGTS that would have exceeded the quantity limits and the associated costs to the provincial drug program.

RESULTS

A total of $38,051,026 was spent on BGTS reimbursed through public drug programs among the 6 provinces. In provinces where BGTS use is largely restricted to patients using insulin, the potential annual savings were minimal, ranging from 0.4% to 2.3%, whereas in provinces with more liberal listings, potential savings ranged from 12.4% to 19.8%. Combining these results with data from a previous analysis in Ontario and British Columbia, the cost savings associated with BGTS quantity limits for 8 provinces across Canada (capturing approximately three-quarters of the Canadian population) is estimated to be $30.3 million annually.

CONCLUSIONS

The national implementation of a quantity limit policy for BGTS that aligns with evidence of efficacy, optimal prescribing and patient safety can lead to considerable savings for most public drug plans across Canada.

Bringing patient centricity to diabetes medication access in Canada

Canada must become proactive in addressing type 2 diabetes. With the second highest rate of diabetes prevalence in the developed world, the number of Canadians living with diabetes will soon reach epidemic levels. Against international comparisons, Canada also performs poorly with respect to diabetes-related hospitalizations, mortality rates, and access to medications. Diabetes and its comorbidities pose a significant burden on people with diabetes (PWD) and their families, through out-of-pocket expenses for medications, devices, supplies, and the support needed to manage their illness. Rising direct and indirect costs of diabetes will become a drain on Canada's economy and undermine the financial stability of our health care system. Canada's approach to diabetes medication assessment and funding has created a patchwork of medication access across provinces. Access to treatments for those who rely on public programs is highly restricted compared to Canadians with private drug plans, as well in contrast with public payers in other countries. Each person living with diabetes has different needs, so a "patient-centric" approach ensures treatment focused on individual circumstances. Such tailoring is difficult to achieve, with the linear approach required by public payers. We may be undermining optimal care for PWD because of access policies that are not aligned with individualized approaches - and increasing overall health care costs in the process. The scope of Canada's diabetes challenge demands holistic and proactive solutions. Canada needs to get out from "behind the eight ball" and get "ahead of the curve" when it comes to diabetes care. Improving access to medications is one of the tools for getting there. Canada's "call to action" for diabetes starts with effective implementation of existing best practices. A personalized approach to medication access, to meet individual needs and optimize outcomes, is also a key enabler. PWD and prescribers need reimbursement approaches that allow them to use existing tools (ie, medications and supplies) to manage diabetes in a timely manner and to avoid and/or delay major downstream complications.