Our Vision
The Better Pharmacare Coalition works on behalf of itsmembers to ensure appropriate and timely BC PharmaCare program
coverage for evidence-based prescription medications and health products.
HAVE YOU BEEN ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLINICAL TRIAL?
Researchers in Canada are seeking feedback on your experience with declining or participating in a clinical trial via an on-line, anonymous survey.
To access this on-line survey, please click here.
More information about this survey can be found here.
Reference Drug Program: A Patient Perspective
Introduction
The Better Pharmacare Coalition (BPC) wants to give patients and the general public the "straight goods" on Reference Drug Program ("RDP"). Under RDP programs and tools, such as reference drug pricing, drug plans reimburse the cost of the reference drug or drugs in a medication class. Most often, this is the most inexpensive drug in a class.These policy changes potentially will adversely affect thousands of patients, in particular, our most vulnerable patient populations: the elderly and low-income. Changing a stabilized patient's medication, strictly based on a government medication-pricing scheme with cost containment as the prime consideration, is contrary to evidence-based medical practice. Canadian patient organizations fully support a 'patients first' approach, and so should government. Cost containment policies should preserve and uphold the intent of a health care system to deliver precision medicine and respect the complexity of therapy choices being made between patients and their physicians.
British Columbia continues to be the only province in Canada that supports a Reference Drug Program. But other public and now private drug plans are increasingly using RDP style programs to curb or cut prescription medication reimbursement costs.
To learn the essential facts on reference drug programs and what their implementation could mean to you, take a few minutes to read the information. Your health could depend on it.
Continue reading...
If you, or a loved one that you care for, have experienced an access to medication issue, please share your story with us.
Your Stories
Article 1: Catch 22 plus 40Allan suffers from a rare disease called Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP). Without treatment he could die in pretty short order {more)...
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July 5, 2016 Reference Drug Program: A Patient Perspective February 12, 2016 British Columbians' grave concerns over expansion of BC government's Reference Drug Program February 9, 2016 Better Pharmacare Coalition poll reveals British Columbians oppose changes to planned expansion to BC government's Reference Drug Program November 28, 2013 Canadian PKU & Allied Disorders Inc. Announces B.C.'s decision to fund medical foods to protect against brain-threatening disease November 24, 2013 Bulk Drug Purchasing Is Too Good to Be True August 13, 2013 Tread carefully on bulk drug purchases August 9, 2013 Pharmacare no panacea for health care costs May 12, 2013 Liberal Party of BC Response May 7, 2013 Green Party of BC Response May 7, 2013 New Democratic Party of BC Response April 19, 2013 BPC letter to candidates April 19, 2013 BPC survey for candidates |
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BPC Members The BPC is an alliance of provincial and national not-for-profit organizations. More on our members. |
