Smoking Cessation Program – Information for Pharmacists
On this page…
- Program information
- Clinical information
- Information for your patients
- Patients with federal coverage
Program Information
The B.C. government’s Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C residents of any age to stop smoking or using other tobacco products by:
- covering 100% of the cost of specific non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products, or
- contributing to the cost of specific prescription smoking cessation drugs.
|
Program policy and claims procedures |
PharmaCare Policy Manual Section 5.20 (PDF) |
|
Declaration and Notification form (for patient and pharmacist signature) |
 Declaration and Notification form (HLTH 5464) (PDF) |
| Key information for submitting claims | |
| Products covered (including DINs/PINs) |
Clinical Information
| Potential drug interactions with smoking and quitting (PDF) | Chart of the most common drug interaction issues connected to the use of tobacco |
| CADTH Smoking Cessation Pharmacotherapy–Summary for Health Care Providers (PDF) | Based on the Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH) report, Pharmacologic-based Strategies for Smoking Cessation: Clinical and Cost-Effectiveness Analyses |
| Resources for health care providers, including training opportunities and materials that can be ordered, including referral forms and patient hand-outs (SmartSteps booklets) |
Information for Your Patients
- Patient information
- Patients’ Frequently Asked Questions
- Resources for Educators - patient information sheets and posters in 8 languages
- Healthy Families BC’s Prescription for Health program—provides health risk assessment and lifestyle support services to people who smoke
- QuitNow—British Columbia’s free quit smoking program provides a range of services for tobacco users:
- Quit coaching by phone at 1 877 455-2233 (coaching in groups and video conferencing also available. Translation services available in many languages)
- Quit coaching by expert chat online at www.quitnow.ca
- Quit coaching by text, a 14-week mobile texting service that provides quit smoking tips and motivational support. Access by texting QUITNOW to 654321
- QuitNow website with information, tips and tools for quitting, and a community of peer-to-peer support groups
Patients with Federal Coverage
PharmaCare covers NRTs for all residents of British Columbia, of any age, who have active MSP coverage, use tobacco, and have not already exhausted their yearly limit on NRTs covered by PharmaCare.
This includes individuals who do not have PharmaCare plan coverage and those with active MSP and federal coverage under, for instance:
- Interim Federal Health Program (delivered through Citizenship and Immigration Canada)
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Canadian Forces
- Non-Insured Health Benefits Program patients
- RCMP members (retired)
Residents covered by federal drug plans may choose whether to use PharmaCare coverage or their federal coverage.
Please note: The prescription smoking cessation drugs, bupropion (Zyban®) and varenicline (generics)*, are covered only for individuals with Fair PharmaCare coverage or coverage under PharmaCare Plans B (Residential Care), C (Income Assistance) or G (Psychiatric Medications).
*Champix® (varenicline brand name) is a partial benefit.
