B.C. government’s expansion to B.C. will soon benefit thousands of British Columbians pharmacare Program.
Starting Thursday, drug coverage has been expanded to include drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes, heart failure and blood clots.
“This is a very important step forward for our province,” said B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix.
“The drug in question affects 245,000 people. These are much-needed drugs in our province.”
Drug coverage for two drugs will be expanded from limited coverage to regular benefits – they are dapagliflozin (Forexiga) and apixaban (generic).
According to the BC Ministry of Health, two other drugs, empagliflozin (Jardiance) and semaglutide (Ozempic), that are covered by PharmaCare in specific medical conditions will have their limited criteria expanded.
“The changes will ensure that coverage is aligned with clinical evidence and will improve patient access to appropriate medicines,” ministry staff said in a release.
Dapagliflozin (Forxiga) is approved by Health Canada to treat a number of conditions such as heart failure, type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney disease.
It was first listed as a limited coverage benefit through PharmaCare on January 11, 2022, for patients with heart failure with “low ejection fraction,” a condition in which the muscle of the left ventricle does not pump normally Still working.
Currently, approximately 2,000 patients in British Columbia benefit from dapagliflozin under limited coverage, according to the ministry. A regular benefit expansion is expected to benefit 5,000 more patients in the first year.
Apixaban (generic) is a blood thinner used to prevent or treat blood clots.
According to the BC government, currently 45,000 patients in British Columbia benefit from apixaban under limited coverage. Officials say the expansion of a routine benefit is expected to benefit about 24,000 more patients.
An expansion of limited coverage criteria for empagliflozin (Jardiance) and semaglutide (Ozempic) allows patients to apply for coverage of these two drugs that work to lower blood sugar levels in adults with type 2 diabetes, according to the government. will be easy.
PharmaCare has changed the coverage from 3rd line to 2nd line.
According to the ministry, patients now only have to try one drug, metformin, before their physicians can request coverage for empagliflozin or semaglutide.
PharmaCare is a publicly funded program that helps BC residents pay for certain medicines, medical supplies and pharmacy services.
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