Ontario Government got it right!!
We at Cure SMA Canada are very happy and proud to announce that the government of the province of Ontario has communicated with us that they have come to a mutually agreeable decision to approve reimbursement for Ontario’s Spinal Muscular Atrophy patients.
As a follow-up to the national review process recommendation finalized in March, Ontario is now expanding coverage of Spinraza. Specifically, the criteria will be expanded to include patients who:
are pre-symptomatic with two or three copies of SMN2 gene; or
have had disease duration of less than six months, two copies of the SMN2 gene, and symptom onset after the first week after birth and on or before seven months of age; or
are under the age of 18 with symptom onset after six months of age and who have never achieved the ability to walk independently.
Patients will be required to undergo ongoing assessment to monitor for improvement over time and must meet renewal criteria for continuation of treatment.
In addition, symptomatic Type 2 and 3 patients under the age of 18 regardless of ever achieving the ability to walk independently will be considered on a case by case basis.
Other patients who do not meet the expanded funding criteria may be considered in exceptional cases.
What this means:
Ontario SMA patients will need to discuss with their own neurologist, the process required for their own particular access. Some will be accessing simply because they fall within the immediate approved criteria, however patients that do not, will need to apply through their neurologist.
The news couldn’t be better for our Ontario SMA community! Among the younger patients, Type 2 and Type 3 patients as well as adults living with SMA have the potential to apply for coverage.
We at Cure SMA Canada are very excited to know that our Ontario SMA patients will have the opportunity to access what they have been waiting and hoping a lifetime for, a future!
We are happy to know that the province of Ontario joins Quebec and Saskatchewan to provide expanded coverage.
We wait to hear good news from the remaining provinces. All patients, regardless of the province they live in, have the right to a future with treatment.
Thank you Ontario!!!
Sincerely,
Susi Vander Wyk
Executive Director
Cure SMA Canada
