Information for pharmacies
Last updated on August 2, 2024
This page links to important information for pharmacists about the PharmaCare program and policies.
The PHO has declared the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and rescinded related orders. This means pharmacy techs, nursing students and retired nurses may no longer administer flu and COVID-19 vaccines; PharmaCare will no longer honour claims for vaccinations by these professionals. Pharmacies may continue to claim vaccinations by RNs (BCCNM members); pharmacy students, under supervision of a full pharmacist certified to administer injections; and medical students, under the supervision of a licensed practitioner—as authorized outside of the COVID-19 health emergency. PharmaCare is reviewing other policies related to COVID-19 PHO orders.
Claims
- Correct quantities for claims
- Product identification numbers (PINs)
- Drug shortages
- Services that are benefits
- How to claim services fees (PDF, 77KB)
- Minor Ailments and Contraception Service (MACS)
- Drug administration fee
- High cost drugs
- Vaccines
Other
Supporting clients
If a client needs help paying for medications, please support them in registering for Fair PharmaCare. Send them to gov.bc.ca/ahdc or give them a copy of the Fair PharmaCare pamphlet.
- Plan Z and exceptional coverage
- Plan W - OTC drugs list
- LCA and RDP data files
- Prescription renewal support (PPRSS)
- Smoking Cessation Program
- Information pamphlets (15 languages)
Drug lists
SA approval may be granted for full coverage of a drug or medical supply or device that is otherwise partially covered or not covered.
Patients can track their own SA requests online in Health Gateway.
Pharmacist-initiated SA requests
Pharmacists may request SA coverage when:
- Prescribing for minor ailments or contraception
- Recommending OTC medications such as acetaminophen or NRTs
- Adapting a prescription
- Applying for exceptional Plan Z coverage
- Dispensing vancomycin following a hospital stay
- Directly employed by a BC health authority and submitting a request that is part of their health authority collaborative work with prescribers
In addition to the examples above, pharmacists can assist with requests for medication coverage where the pharmacist is not the prescriber. A pharmacist in B.C. can collaborate with a medication prescriber to create a SA draft in eForms for the prescriber to sign off and submit. For fax submissions, the SA draft must be reviewed, cosigned and submitted by the prescriber. All correspondence must be between the prescribers’ office and PharmaCare (no intermediaries).
Prescriber IDs, SA approvals, benefit status, and blood glucose certificate status are available 24/7.
- Lower Mainland: 604-682-7120
- Elsewhere in B.C., toll-free: 1-800-554-0225
Choose self-service and, when prompted, enter your College of Pharmacists ID and press #.
- For prescriber ID: press 1, enter practitioner MSP billing number and press #
- For SA information: press 2, enter patient PHN and press #
- For benefit status: press 3, enter DIN and press #
- For blood glucose certificate: press 4, enter patient PHN and press #
For more, see Help Desk self service options.
