Do Provincial Formulary Restrictions Explain Differential Uptake of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors in Adults With Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease in Canada? A Retrospective Cohort Study of Pharmacy Claims.

Summary: Imagine a new, helpful medicine for older adults who have heart issues and diabetes. In Canada, one province (Ontario) made it very easy to get this medicine. However, other provinces made doctors fill out extra paperwork to approve it. Researchers looked at over 160,000 patients to see what happened. They found that patients in Ontario were almost three times more likely to get this helpful medicine compared to patients in the stricter provinces. The lesson? Making rules too strict can stop people from getting the treatments they really need.