Funding community medicines by exception: a descriptive epidemiological study from New Zealand

To assess rates of approval and identify factors associated with successful applications for funding to the New Zealand Community Exceptional Circumstances (CEC) scheme.

Descriptive quantitative analysis of data in CEC applications database. The main outcome was initial application approval rate. Analysis included calculation of unadjusted and adjusted associations between potential determinants (for example patient age, gender) and outcomes using logistic regression analysis. All CEC applications with a decision about approval or decline 1 October 2001 to 30 September 2008 were included.

Application numbers were high, but had reduced since 2001. A small number of medicines (11) and indications comprised about a third of the applications to the scheme. While some common applications were clearly outside the remit of the scheme, many applications were for patients who fitted the scheme's eligibility criteria. The overall initial application approval rate was 16% and the renewal application approval rate was 88%. Approval rates varied widely by type of medicine, therapeutic group and indication. After adjusting for other potential determinants there were no statistically significant differences in initial approval rates by gender, ethnicity or socioeconomic status of the patient. There were however, significant differences in initial application approval by age of the patient, type of applicant doctor and by geographical location of the applicant doctor.

There was no evidence that gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic status of patients were factors associated with successful applications. However, applications for younger patients, those made by specialists, and those made by applying clinicians from the Auckland District Health Board area were more likely to be successful. It is possible that this may to some degree be appropriate, but requires further research.