2.5 Changes to PharmaNet Connections

General Policy Description

All PharmaNet access sites must be registered in PRIME, and the registration information must be kept current to maintain PharmaNet access.

Policy Details

Business changes

Owners of a PharmaCare-enrolled provider must notify PharmaCare of business changes (such as changes to ownership and management) using the PharmaCare Provider Change Form (HLTH 5433) (PDF, 746KB).

Failure to report changes may result in delay or suspension of payments.

PharmaNet access sites

Under the Organization Agreement for PharmaNet Access signed when a site is registered in PRIME, an organization must immediately notify the Province:

• If a PharmaNet access site or any portion of a site is leased or transferred to another person
• If the organization ceases to operate a site
• If the organization acquires a premises that already has PharmaNet access, whether or not the organization intends to provide site access from that location
• Of any change to the information in site registration details, including changes to the organization that owns/operates the site, site name, site status, location, operating hours, PharmaNet software vendor,  name/contact for signing authority, PharmaNet administrator, privacy officer, or technical support contact of a change of control of the organization

If you make a change to a PharmaNet connection without reporting it in time to the PharmaNet Help Desk and/or PRIME, you may lose connection to PharmaNet.

Reporting changes

All changes must be reported and approved by the Ministry beforehand. The appropriate contact varies depending on the change and some changes must be reported to multiple contacts.

Changes to report to the PharmaCare Help Desk

Visit PharmaCare Help Desk for contact details.

• PharmaNet software version update with same vendor (2 business days before the update)
• Closing a site (30 days before the closure)

Changes to report to PRIME Support

Email PRIMEsupport@gov.bc.ca to report the following changes.

• Operating/business, corporate name, or site name change (at least 30 days before change)
• Change from one vendor's software to another vendor's (contact PRIME to discuss at least 3 months ahead of the proposed change date)
• Relocating to new premises (address change) – (timeline depends on the situation. Contact PRIME to discuss well in advance of the change)
• Closing a site (30 days before the closure)
• Disposition of a site (30 days before disposition; requires a new site registration by the new owner in PRIME)

Changes to report by submitting HLTH 5433 – PharmaCare Provider Change form

These changes are reported using HLTH 5433 – PharmaCare Provider Change (PDF, 746KB) form in advance of the change.

• Provider contact information (7 days before change)
• Operating/business or corporate name (7 days before change)
• Owner information (7 days before change)
• Manager (7 days before change)
• Location (7 days before change)
• Power of attorney (7 days before change)
• Cancellation of sub-class
  • Opioid Agonist Treatment: 30 days before services end
    Plan B: Before the last day of the month before the final full month of service
    Device provider: As soon as possible
• Request to add sub-class (7 days before effective date)
• Notice of certain actions or events - immediately after the event
  • Order, suspension and/or cancellation of billing privileges judgment or conviction
  • Suspension or cancellation of pharmacist’s registration and/or pharmacy licence
  • Disciplinary action taken by a governing body or action or proceeding taken by the Canadian Board for Certification of Prosthetists and Orthotists
  • Instances in which an owner of the site has been the director of a corporation that has declared or been petitioned into bankruptcy
  • A requirement to pay an amount to a public insurer, other than BC PharmaCare
• Disposition or closure
  • Disposition: 30 days
    Closure: 30 days