COVID-19 information for health professionals

Last updated on April 12, 2024

Key PharmaCare resources

Other resources 

Coverage for First Nations Health Authority clients

The Transitional Coverage Request (PDF, 651KB) (TCR) is a manual claim process for a one-time fill used in cases where Plan W coverage is not yet in place. The form has a checkbox to indicate whether the request is related to COVID-19 or a biosimilar transition.

First Nations Health Authority (FNHA) aims to support continuity of treatment and immediate coverage for eligible benefit items. If the request is approved, FNHA will reimburse pharmacists a $10 service fee in addition to the drug cost and dispensing fee (up to the PharmaCare maximum). The form can also be used to request transitional coverage for medical supplies and equipment that are urgent and eligible for coverage. The following PIN will show on the pharmacy payment statement from Pacific Blue Cross: 3642005 – TCR payment.

If an FNHA client does not have Plan W as their primary drug plan, the pharmacist can submit a TCR with the client’s PHN, status number, date of birth and address, indicating that the client requires Plan W enrolment. In this scenario, FNHA will reimburse pharmacists a $10 service fee. The following PIN will show on the pharmacy payment statement from Pacific Blue Cross: 3642006 – MSP enrolment payment.

For any questions about Transitional Coverage Requests, contact FNHA at 1-855-550-5454.

Rapid antigen test (RAT) kits

Community pharmacies may claim $75 per case of publicly funded COVID-19 rapid antigen test (RAT) kits distributed. RAT kits must be distributed one at a time, with an instruction sheet. and at no charge to the client. Kits can be given to anyone 18 and over. They do not need to be a B.C. resident. They do not need to show ID. The pharmacy does not need to collect or record their PHN.

Health Canada periodically extends RAT kit expiry dates. Visit Health Canada’s web page, Authorized medical devices for uses related to COVID-19 and the BC Centre for Disease Control COVID-19 website for current information.

PharmaNet procedures

 Pharmacy staff must enter the PIN in PharmaNet on opening a case.

  1. Enter PIN: 66128325 for BNTX case or 66128338 for Artron case
  2. Enter pharmacy’s O-Med PHN.
  3. Enter the number of cases in Quantity.
  4. The claim will adjudicate as a non-benefit and will be paid monthly.

Patient instruction sheet

The BCCDC instruction sheet is available for printing in several languages. A pharmacy may also provide a QR code that links to the instruction sheet.

For more details, visit Section 8.15, Rapid antigen test kit distribution, PharmaCare Policy Manual