Alberta health minister apologizes, hits pause on changes to insulin pump funding

Alberta's health minister says planned changes to funding for insulin pumps are on hold after people with Type 1 diabetes voiced worries about potential financial or medical hardship.

Jason Copping says the changes, which were to begin Aug. 1, are being put off pending consultations to make sure no one is forced to choose between a pump and putting food on the table.

Copping, speaking in the legislature during question period, apologized to the roughly 4,000 Albertans who use insulin pumps.

The government said last week that it would change how it funds the pumps, small programmable machines that deliver insulin to patients throughout the day.

The idea was for the pumps to be paid for through a government-sponsored payments plan, which prompted concerns that new out-of-pocket costs would be overwhelming for some.