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5.4 Travel Supply Policy

Last updated on April 16, 2024

General Policy Description

Under the Travel Supply Policy, a pharmacist can provide an early prescription refill for patients travelling outside of B.C. Refills under the Travel Supply Policy are limited to “topping up” the remaining prescription supply to the maximum days’ supply recognized by PharmaCare for the drug.

The Travel Supply Policy is an exception to the Refilling Prescriptions Too Soon Policy, under which PharmaCare does not cover prescription refills when the patient has more than a 14-day supply remaining from a previous fill. 

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Policy details

Eligibility

Patients are eligible for an early “top-up” refill under the Travel Supply Policy once every six months (180 days).

Coverage limit

PharmaCare covers travel supplies only up to the recognized PharmaCare maximum days' supply for the drug (i.e., 30 days for a short-term drug and 100 days for long-term). For example, if a patient has 25 days’ supply remaining of a drug subject to a 100-day supply maximum, a travel supply refill would be limited to a 75-day supply.

Patients requesting and receiving more than the recognized PharmaCare maximum days’ supply will be responsible for the cost of the supply exceeding the PharmaCare maximum days’ supply. For patients covered by Fair PharmaCare, only the portion of the costs eligible for PharmaCare coverage will count towards the deductible and/or family maximum.

Required documentation and recordkeeping

Patients must sign the Travel Declaration form (PDF, 122 KB) on the date the travel supply is filled in order to receive coverage for a travel supply refill. A parent or guardian can complete the Travel Declaration form for a child’s prescription.

Pharmacies can download the Travel Declaration form (PDF, 122 KB) or order them from Health Insurance BC (HIBC).

One Travel Declaration form can document several travel supply claims if multiple prescriptions are filled on the same day. If travel supply claim(s) are filled on different days for the same patient, a new form must be used each day.

Pharmacies are to maintain completed Travel Declaration forms on file for audit purposes.

Entering travel supply claims in PharmaNet

Pharmacies are to process travel supply claims using the intervention code MV–Vacation Supply.

Special Services Fee

Travel supply claims are not eligible for a Special Services Fee.

Procedures

Procedures for pharmacists

Processing a travel supply claim

If a client asks for an early refill for travel outside B.C. and the refill would be for more than 14 days, inform them of the Travel Supply Policy.

If the patient requests coverage under the Travel Supply Policy:

  • Have the patient complete and sign a Travel Declaration form
  • Submit the claim with the intervention code MV–Vacation Supply. The claim will adjudicate to allow coverage of a top-up to the PharmaCare maximum days' supply for the drug
  • Retain the signed Travel Declaration form for audit purposes

Response code "65–Intervention/Exception Code Error"

If you enter a claim using the MV–Vacation Supply intervention code and receive the response 65‑Intervention/Exception Code Error, the patient has less than a 14-day supply. Enter the claim without the MV intervention code.

If a patient chooses not to have a claim entered as a travel supply

Enter the claim with the intervention code DE – Adjudicate to $0.00 as requested. The patient will be responsible for the cost. If they are on the Fair PharmaCare plan, the cost will not count towards their deductible and/or family maximum.

Intervention codes that supersede the MV-Vacation Supply intervention code

If the MV–Vacation Supply intervention code is entered along with any one of the following intervention codes, the claim adjudicates according to the non-MV intervention code:

  • MP–Valid Claim–Value $1000.00 to $9999.99
  • MR–Replacement, Item Lost or Broken
  • MX–Long Term Care PRN Order
  • MY–Long Term Care Prescription Split for Compliance
  • UA–Consulted Prescriber & filled Rx As Written
  • UF–Patient Gave Adequate Explanation & Filled As Written
  • DE–Adjudicate to $0.00 As Requested

Note: The Travel Supply Policy cannot be applied if a patient is moving outside of B.C. PharmaCare no longer covers a person's medication as soon as they move outside of B.C.

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