Colorectal Cancer Association of Canada

Sponsorship Proposal to Argyle MedicalOctober 2011

Argyle Medical & CCAC Mission

Together we can make a difference!

Distributing ostomy products in Canada

CCAC

Argyle Medical

The Many Faces of Colorectal Cancer

The CCAC commenced operations in 1998 and was incorporated in 1999 as the first not-for-profit national organization dedicated to awareness and education of colorectal cancer (CRC), support for patients and their families and advocacy on their behalf.

It is led by a national Board of Directors and a distinguished Medical Advisory Board who guide the association to achieve excellence and maintain the many programs in support of its mission.

The objectives of the CCAC are threefold:

• to promote colorectal cancer awareness and education• to support patients and their families• to advocate on their behalf for primary prevention, provincial screening programs, and equal and timely access to effective treatments.

The CCAC

• In North America, over 70,000 new ostomy surgeries are performed each year (Ostomy Toronto, 2011), a life-changing event for patients suffering from serious conditions including colorectal cancer.

• Following surgery, patients require a medical prosthetic which must be custom-fit to their unique physical and medical needs. Ostomy prosthetics are imperative for normalizing intestinal system function and improving patients’ quality of life.

• Despite its legal designation as a prosthetic, ostomy supplies are not reimbursed in full across Canada.

The Issue and CCAC Position

• The physical, psychological, and emotional impact that ostomy prosthetics have on improving the quality of life for patients coupled with the lack of a cohesive national policy has a real and adverse effect on patients’ access to ostomy supplies.

• The CCAC believes that the existing discrepancy among the provinces regarding coverage and payment for ostomy equipment is unfair and is detrimental to the quality of the lives of patients.

• The CCAC believes that ostomy supplies should be reimbursed in full across Canada and is seeking national input from stakeholders and health professionals from across Canada to achieve a consensus on the issues surrounding reimbursement and access to ostomy equipment and supplies.

The Issue and CCAC Position

Provincial Reimbursement PoliciesBritish Columbia 100% coverage for persons who are:

•Permanent residents of a licensed long term care facility.•Persons eligible for benefits through Ministry of Human Resources.•Severely handicapped children eligible for “At Home” Program.•Registered with a provincial Cystic Fibrosis Clinic.•Clients eligible for financial assistance through mental health centers, palliative care and drug plans.

Alberta 75% reimbursement of program price for ostomy supplies.100% coverage if family taxable income is less than $12,610.

Saskatchewan "Saskatchewan Aids to Independent Living” (SAIL).50% reimbursement of all ostomy supplies for registered participants.

Manitoba Clients may purchase non-registered items outside of program with no financial assistance

Ontario $600 per year per permanent stoma (up to two ostomies).

Quebec $700 per year per permanent stoma.Social aid recipients receive $100 on their first order and $20 per month after.

New Brunswick No government coverage.Private insurers typically provide 80-100% coverage.

NewfoundlandLabrador

100% - social assistance recipients with "Drug Cards".75% - senior recipients of Guaranteed Income Supplements with "Seniors Drug Card".One time donation of supplies by Cancer Society if diagnosis is cancer.Private plans cover 80-100%.

Nova Scotia 100% - seniors (65+) with income below $16,000 per year.Social assistance recipients.Cancer Society covers 100% of cost if diagnosis is cancer.80% - all other seniors (65+).

Prince Edward Island 100% coverage - social assistance recipients from Cancer Society for two years (if diagnosis is cancer and family income is below $35,000 per year) .

Arriving at a Solution

Pan Canadian Ostomy Supplies Reimbursement Policy Reform Platform

Phase I: Planning and Facilitation of an Advisory Council Meeting and the Establishment of Conference Partners

Phase II: CCAC Preparation of Briefs /Submission of Documents to Various Provincial Jurisdictions

Phase III: Advocacy Implementation

To proceed with Phase 1 of the Program, the CCAC

is requesting $30,000 to assist in the support and

facilitation of the multi disciplinary Advisory

Council Meeting and the generation of a consensus

statement.

Request for Support

The proposal for Phase I of the AC meeting is found below. (Please refer to the Appendix for information regarding Phases II and III.)

1. Stakeholders together with a multi-disciplinary group of Enterostomal Therapy Nurses, Gastrointestinal surgeons, and Psychosocial experts and other health professionals and patients will come together to produce a consensus statement on improving the quality of life (QOL) for ostomates, including re-imbursement solutions for ostomy supplies.

2. Identifying, documenting and advancing the psychosocial link between optimal support and improved QoL will go a long way in helping to build a strong case for coverage and the payment of supplies.

3. Provincial comparisons will be supplied identifying current discrepancies so as to ultimately ensure access across Canada at the highest levels possible.

Advisory Council Meeting

4. The generation of a consensus statement will be key as a basis to advocate for health care policy reform.

5. Comparisons between the various provincial jurisdictions would be highlighted demonstrating the variances in patient QoL between those jurisdictions offering adequate reimbursements strategies and those where it is inadequate or non existent.

6. Utilization of the Ontario study spearheaded by the UOAC as additional support in Ontario.

7. Encouraging collaboration between provincial stakeholders and agencies who presently offer various levels of coverage for ostomy supplies.

Advisory Council Meeting

The CCAC offers the following possible recognition opportunities:

• Participation at VIP recognition events.• Public recognition from the CCAC President during the course of the

conference.• An opportunity to present a display supplies/printed materials.• Corporate logo recognition opportunities:

– Prominent on the invitation (based on print deadline).– Prominent on all conference materials.– On-site sponsor board.– CCAC website.

• Acknowledgement in the CCAC Annual Review/quarterly e-newsletter.• Additional opportunities may be discussed in addition to the above as the

program matures.

Visibility

Our partnership is a commitment to improving the lives of patients.

Thank you for your support.

Together we can make a difference!

Phase II :CCAC Preparation of Briefs/Submission of Documents to Various Provincial Jurisdictions

 

The presentation of briefs and the submission of relevant documents, including the Advisory Council consensus statements to provincial health ministries by the CCAC in the appropriate jurisdictions.

Those provinces identified to have none or inadequate reimbursement strategies will be targeted followed by those whose reimbursement policies are inadequate.

Appendix:Phase ll & Phase lll Outline

Appendix Continued

Phase III: Advocacy

•Meeting between the CCAC and the respective provincial ministries and agencies include discussion of the reimbursement issues as well as related issues previously identified.

•In addition, required letter writing campaigns and other advocacy tools including press conferences and information sessions may be introduced through the CCAC on a province-by-province basis.

Advocacy Efforts Across Canada