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We just got a letter from our medical supply company yesterday stating that the $ of Mic-Key buttons has gone up and our insurance won't cover it. They're phasing it out of their stock completely and replacing the Mic-Key with
a new brand of skin level g-tubes called NutriPort (Kendall Healthcare). I hate changes when it comes to Nick's supplies & meds. Especially when he's in 'a good place' with no current issues to be worked out like he is now. This new button seems like it may or not be better.
Points made in the literature:

• Made of silicone (softer).
• It has raised feet for greater air flow resulting in a healthier stoma site. But does that mean that shirts, etc. will get caught underneath?
• The balloon is supposed to last for at least 90 days. We replace Nick's button every 30. Not because the balloon is bad, but because it's nasty with germs. The stoma site gets all red and sore quickly after the Calmoseptine ointment that we use wears off. Who knows what it looks like between the inside where the balloon is and the outside that we can see. He has a suppressed immune system, so maybe this is contributing to this issue. I really hope this doesn't mean infection problems are on the way because insurance will only pay to replace the button every 3 months!
• Allows the parent/patient the option to actively lock the extension set or passively lock the extension set. So, not more tubes spinning and getting disconnected, or not pushed in all the way? That'll be nice.

I had a great system for not feeding the bed when he was tube fed. Now we only use the button for extra fluids and meds, but it's like I have OCD or something...I check to make sure the extension's locked probably 3 times before I start giving him water/meds! LOL!