P.E.I. spending $50K to expand sleep apnea program for low-income residents

A CPAP machine is shown in an image from Shutterstock.com

Low-income Prince Edward Island residents could soon have access to a sleep apnea program.

The P.E.I. government is spending $50,000 to upgrade LungNSPEI’s Sleep Apnea Refurbishment program, according to a news release. The money will be used to buy new CPAP and BiPAP machines.

“Without treatment, OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) can lead to serious health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and depression,” said Mark McLane, minister of Health and Wellness, in the release “Also, many patients require machine therapy before they can be discharged from hospital, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increased healthcare costs.”

The release says OSA affects roughly 10,000 people on P.E.I. An estimated 3,000 people are uninsured or underinsured for the cost of CPAP or BiPAP equipment.

The province aims to eliminate the waitlist for the machines by the end of April. They also plan to create an inventory of the machines for hospital patients.

For more P.E.I. news, visit our dedicated provincial page.