Drug Benefit List
The Drug Benefit List is a listing of the drugs provided as a benefit
by the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) Program. The listed drugs are
those primarily used in a home or ambulatory setting.
The purpose of the Drug Benefit List is to:
- Indicate which drug products
are eligible benefits; and
- Provide a tool for physicians and pharmacists
that encourages the selection of optimal, cost-effective drug therapy.
 Drug Product Lists:
Benefit Updates to the Drug Benefit List are generally issued on a quarterly
basis.
A prescription from a licensed practitioner is required for any listed
drug to be processed as a benefit. Practitioners are those people authorized
to prescribe drugs within the scope of practice in their province or
territory.
The information contained in this electronic version of the Non-Insured
Health Benefits Drug Benefit List requires knowledgeable interpretation
and is intended primarily for professional health care practitioners,
pharmacies, hospitals and organizations associated with the manufacture,
distribution and use of pharmaceutical preparations.
The Drug Benefit List is also published in print format once a year in
April. To receive a print copy, providers must obtain a fax request form
from one of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Toll-Free
Inquiry Centres.
Pharmacologic-Therapeutic Classification of Drugs
The drugs are classified according to the American Hospital Formulary Service
(AHFS) Pharmacologic-Therapeutic Classification developed
by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists for the purposes of
the AHFS Drug Information. Permission to use this system has been granted
by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The Society is not
responsible for the accuracy of transpositions from the original context.
Drugs are listed alphabetically within each therapeutic classification
according to their chemical names. Under each drug, acceptable products
are listed, see the Pharmacologic-Therapeutic Classification
of Drugs Legend
for an illustration and description.
04:00 Antihistamine Drugs
08:00 Anti-Infective Agents
10:00 Antineoplastic Agents
12:00 Autonomic Drugs
20:00 Blood Formation and Coagulation
24:00 Cardiovascular Drugs
28:00 Central Nervous System Agents
32:00 Contraceptives (Non-Oral)
36:00 Diagnostic Agents
40:00 Electrolytic, Caloric and Water Balance
48:00 Antitussives, Expectorants and Mucolytic
Agents
52:00 Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Preparations
56:00 Gastrointestinal Drugs
60:00 Gold Compounds
64:00 Heavy Metal Antagonists
68:00 Hormones and Synthetic Substitutes
80:00 Serums, Toxoids and Vaccines
84:00 Skin and Mucous Membrane Agents
86:00 Smooth Muscle Relaxants
88:00 Vitamins
92:00 Unclassified Therapeutic Agents
94:00 Devices
96:00 Pharmaceutical Aids
A-Z Index of drug products within the pharmacologic-therapeutic classification of drugs list
Special Formulary for Chronic Renal Failure Patients
Recipients with chronic renal failure are eligible to receive a list
of supplemental benefits that are not included in the NIHB Drug Benefit
List but which are required on a long-term basis.
Some supplemental benefits include: darbepoetin alfa products (except
in provinces where NIHB recipients are eligible to receive darbepoetin
alfa through the provincial programs), calcium products, multivitamins
formulated for renal patients and select nutritional supplements formulated
for renal patients.
New patients, requiring drugs on the special formulary, will be identified
for coverage through the usual prior approval process. Once the patient
is confirmed as eligible, coverage will automatically be extended to
all drugs in the special formulary for as long as needed.
See the special formulary for chronic renal failure patients products list for a listing of eligible products.
Limited Use Benefits and Criteria
Certain drug products may be inappropriate for general listing, but have
value in specific circumstances. These products may be recommended as
"limited use benefits" with specific criteria for provision as a benefit
under the NIHB Program.
Limited Use Benefits and Criteria List
A-Z Index of drug products within
the limited use benefits and criteria list
Excluded Drug Products
Exclusions by the Non-Insured Health
Benefits Program
Exclusions by the Common Drug Review and
the Federal Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee
Benefit Updates
The quarterly update is a cumulative listing of any changes to the NIHB
Drug Benefit List since last published, including additions and deletions
of items, replacement of Drug Identification Numbers (DINs), limited
use benefits, drugs with a status change, drugs with name changes, drugs
removed from the Canadian market and drugs discontinued by the manufacturer.
The updates are also reflected in the most recent electronic version
of the Non-Insured Health Benefits Drug Benefit List.
For access to complete listing of published DBL updates, as well as
a variety of related documents, visit the Non-Insured Health Benefits
Reports
and Publications section.
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