Smoking Cessation Program – information for health professionals

On this page: Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) |​ Prescription drugs | Switching treatment types | Eligible products |​ Resources

The BC Smoking Cessation Program helps B.C. residents of any age quit cigarettes or other tobacco products. The program:

• Covers the full cost of specific non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as patches and gum
• May cover some or all of the cost of specific prescription smoking cessation drugs, depending on deductible requirements 

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

PharmaCare covers 100% of the cost of one continuous 12-week course of nicotine gum, lozenges or patches in one calendar year for anyone who:

• Is a B.C. resident with active MSP coverage
• Uses tobacco (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco)
• Has not reached their annual limit of NRTs covered by PharmaCare (12 weeks per year)

Refer to Eligible products for the full list of covered NRTs.

Pharmacists can fill a maximum 28-day supply of an NRT per dispense. All three 28-day dispenses must be filled continuously, within the 12-week timeframe.

People covered by a federal drug plan may have coverage for NRTs under that plan. They can choose whether to use PharmaCare or their federal plan to cover NRTs.

How someone gets coverage for NRTs

The client either:

• Selects NRTs in a pharmacy (no prescription needed), or
• Requests a Minor Ailment and Contraception Service (MACS) assessment for nicotine dependence; the pharmacist recommends NRTs as part of a treatment plan

The pharmacist completes, and the client signs, a BC Smoking Cessation Program Declaration and Notification form (PDF, 563KB). If a MACS assessment was done, the pharmacist must document using the MACS form (PDF, 705KB).

Prescription drugs

Each calendar year, PharmaCare will cover one continuous 12-week course of treatment with bupropion (Zyban^® brand only) or varenicline (generics).

• For those covered by Fair PharmaCare, the cost depends on whether they have met their annual deductible and family maximum. People who will be covered by Fair PharmaCare need to be registered for Fair PharmaCare before picking up a prescription
• PharmaCare covers the full cost for people covered by plans B, C, G, or W

Pharmacists can fill a maximum 28-day supply of Zyban^® or varenicline per dispense. All three 28-day dispenses must be filled continuously, within the 12-week timeframe.

Prescription requirements

Patients do need a prescription from a physician, pharmacist or other prescriber for prescription drugs (not for NRT) which specifies:

• "Smoking cessation" as the indication
• "No substitutions", and
• "Dispense in 28-day supply"

Notes: 

• PharmaCare covers only the Zyban^® brand of bupropion for smoking cessation.
  • Wellbutrin^®, Wellbutrin XL^® and generic bupropion are not covered for this indication
• PharmaCare only fully covers generic versions of varenicline
• View eligible products for details
• If a person needs to stop NRT treatment before completing the 12-week course, they may contact PharmaCare to request coverage for the balance of the 12-week course when ready to resume NRT

Switching treatment types

 A patient may be able to switch treatment type partway through a 12-week course.

• To switch from one NRT product to another, the patient simply requests this at the pharmacy
• To switch from one prescription drug to another, a prescriber (physician, pharmacist or other prescriber) must submit a Special Authority request
• To switch from an NRT product to a prescription drug, the patient will usually have to wait until the next calendar year to get PharmaCare coverage. In some cases, PharmaCare may allow the switch in the same year. A prescriber will need to submit a Special Authority request
• Switching from a prescription drug to an NRT product: If PharmaCare has provided any coverage for the prescription drug, PharmaCare may cover a switch to NRTs in the same year with an approved Special Authority request. If PharmaCare did not help with the cost of the prescription drug, the patient can switch to NRTs and have them fully covered by speaking to a pharmacist

Eligible products

Smoking cessation prescription drugs

Generic name	Brand name	Dosage type	Strength	DIN
bupropion1	Zyban®	tablet ER	150 mg	2238441
varenicline	Apo-Varenicline	tablet	0.5 mg	2419882
varenicline	Teva-Varenicline	tablet	0.5 mg	2426226
varenicline	Nra-Varenicline	tablet	0.5 mg	2542951
varenicline	Mint-Varenicline	tablet	0.5 mg	2546949
varenicline	Apo-Varenicline	tablet	1 mg	2419890
varenicline	Teva-Varenicline	tablet	1 mg	2426234
varenicline	Nra-Varenicline	tablet	1 mg	2542978
varenicline	Mint-Varenicline	tablet	1 mg	2546957
varenicline	Apo-Varenicline	tablet DS PK	0.5 mg and 1 mg	2435675
varenicline	Teva-Varenicline	tablet DS PK	0.5 mg and 1 mg	2426781
varenicline	Nra-Varenicline	tablet DS PK	0.5 mg and 1 mg	2542986
varenicline	Mint-Varenicline	tablet DS PK	0.5 mg and 1 mg	2546965

¹PharmaCare covers only the Zyban^® brand of bupropion. Wellbutrin^®, Wellbutrin XL^®, and generic bupropion are not covered as smoking cessation prescription drugs.

 Nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs)

Brand name	Product type	Strength	Pack size	Natural product number (NPN)
Nicorette®	gum1	2  mg	105	80069513
Nicorette®	gum1	4 mg	105	80069471
Nicorette®	lozenge2	2 mg	80	80110858
Nicorette®	lozenge2	4 mg	80	80112095
Nicoderm® Step 1	patch	21 mg	7	80044515
Nicoderm® Step 2	patch	14 mg	7	80044503
Nicoderm® Step 3	patch	7 mg	7	80044518

¹ Nicorette^®  gum flavour: ultra fresh mint only.  ² Nicorette^® lozenge flavour: mint only.

Resources

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