MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release - 22 May, 2015 Inborn Error of Metabolism (IEM) Food Grant Cut The Metabolic Dietary Disorders Association (MDDA) – the national patient support group for families living with an Inborn Error of Metabolism (IEM) - has been advised by the Department of Health today that the IEM food grant (a grant supporting individuals living with rare metabolic diseases) will finish in December 2015 and will no longer be funded by the government. This is part of the government’s recent cuts to health budget, and effects families who are the most vulnerable and who only have a small voice because their condition is rare. Background on IEM’s and supplementary dietary costs People who have Inborn Errors of Metabolism (IEM) - Amino Acid cannot break down specific amino acids in protein. They are treated by a low protein diet using special medical foods, a prescribed amino acid supplement and, for some more rare IEMs, a medication. This low protein diet means most food groups are unable to be consumed including meat, dairy, legumes, eggs and only very small amounts of grains. This medically prescribed diet is essential to prevent a range of health problems from brain damage, seizures, liver failure and in some cases death. Since 2001 people who are required to maintain this very low protein have received a food grant from the Department of Health - this is currently $256.75 per month. The last official figures provided by the Department of Health were provided in 2013 and stated that 904 people were receiving the grant. We have formally requested more current figures but have not received them. Since last year recipients require a formed signed by the treating specialist stating they are either complaint with diet and monitoring requirements or that they have a plan in place to address compliance to receive their grant. The special low protein food is available from 3 suppliers and a pre-made loaf of bread from one of the suppliers is $10.00 and a box of cereal is $14.95. A member has just paid $28 for grated cheese and $20 for sliced cheese plus a $40 delivery fee. These foods are not subsidised by PBS as they are special medical foods not prescription products. The prescribed amino acid supplement replaces essential proteins and nutrients that normally come from food. These supplements are subsidised by PBS but the foods are not. Without treatment of both supplements and special medical foods people with IEMs experience range of outcomes from irreparable brain to premature death. This decision will have a disastrous effect on the family budgets of this rare group of Australian families already struggling with the many challenges that come with living with a rare and silent disease. As it is a genetic disorder many families have more than one child with the disorder. The costs on untreated or poorly treated IEM's is much higher with children who are not well managed experiencing cognitive deficits requiring additional help in educational settings, some requiring more hospital admissions, adults being less likely to be employable due to concentration, cognitive issues, anxiety and depression arising from poor metabolic management and unlike so many disorders this can all be prevented by effective management of the disorder. The MDDA & PKUNSW are extremely concerned about this. We were not consulted in any way about the impact of this decision and we have contacted ASIEM (Australasian Society of Inborn Errors of Metabolism) and it has been confirmed that they were not consulted either. Based on the information provided on the Department of Health website and in the budgetary papers, we believe that the basis for the decision is not factually correct. The stated reason is that more formulas are now on the PBS and low protein foods are more easily accessible and lower in cost. These are two separate issues, and our response is; o o the cost of increased number of formulas available does not represent an additional cost to the government as the prescribing of formulas is related to body weight, and, low protein foods are available from one additional supplier in the last eight years and are not any cheaper (in fact prices have increased along with delivery costs), and are absolutely essential to enable a low protein diet for life for effective IEM management.. The excerpt from the budget papers reads ...ceasing the Inborn Error of Metabolism programme, as key medicines are now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and low protein foods are now much more readily available at lower cost;. This statement about medicines directly contravenes the purpose of this grant (also stated on this same DoH website)... ...The purpose of the IEM grant is to enable people with IEM to stay on strict diets and ensure long term health is maintained. Non-food items, such as medications and supplements, cannot be purchased with money provided under the Programme. Further Resources More about the IEM food grant and the Department of Health’s decision to cease its provision can be found here. http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/Inborn+Error+of+Metabolism+Progra mme Contacts: Please call 1800 288 460 or email media@mdda.org.au for all media enquiries or further information. MDDA Head Office PO Box 33, Montrose, VIC 3765 (03) 9723 0600 www.mdda.org.au