Key Legislation and Policy Dates:
- Effective January 1, 2009, pharmacists in British Columbia became authorized to adapt select prescriptions. Pharmacists must complete an orientation session offered by the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia. Press release from the Ministry of Health here: http://www.bcpharmacists.org/library/A-About_Us/A-8_Key_Initiatives/MOH-News_Release-2008HSERV0120-001939.pdf
- The College of Pharmacists of British Columbia’s Professional Practice Policy #58 (PPP-58), entitled “Medication Management – Adapting a Prescription” serves as the framework for this new pharmacist scope of practice. The orientation guide to PPP-58 is here: http://www.bcpharmacists.org/library/D-Legislation_Standards/D-2_Provincial_Legislation/1017-PPP58_OrientationGuide.pdf, and the clarification published in December 2008 is available here: http://www.bcpharmacists.org/library/D-Legislation_Standards/D-2_Provincial_Legislation/PPP58_QuickReference.pdf.
- Pharmacist authorization for prescription adaptation was further broadened in February 2011. The amendment is available here: http://www.bcpharmacists.org/library/D-Legislation_Standards/D-2_Provincial_Legislation/PPP58_AmendmentOrientationGuide.pdf
- Effective October 21, 2009, pharmacists in British Columbia became authorized to administer select injections. Pharmacists must complete a training course, receive authorization from the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia before administering injections and recertification is required every five years. Press releases from the Ministry of Health here: http://www.bcpharmacists.org/library/A-About_Us/A-8_Key_Initiatives/MOH-News_Release-2009HSERV0008-000123.pdf, http://www.bcpharmacists.org/library/A-About_Us/A-8_Key_Initiatives/MOH-News_Release-2009HSERV0026-000515.pdf
- Effective July 26, 2010, recruitment of pharmacists in British Columbia into the British Columbia Medication Management Project began. This project is a collaboration between the Pharmaceutical Services Division of the Ministry of Health and the British Columbia Pharmacy Association, arising from the 2008 Interim Agreement, whereby the parties agreed to “collaborate on the design, development and future implementation of demonstration projects for medication management”, and to fund the projects from savings generated through the Interim Agreement. Response to this recruitment call was healthy: http://www.bcpharmacy.ca/professional-links/med_management/documents/medicationmanagement_000.pdf.Pharmacists must complete a training course to participate in the project. Data collection for the project completed at the end of January 2012.
- Effective September 2010, patients began receiving clinical services from pharmacists in the British Columbia Medication Management Project. The purpose of the project is to improve patient care, drug therapy outcomes and sustainability of the healthcare system by having pharmacists provide medication management services to patients in a community setting.
- Effective April 1, 2011, medication review services became more standardized through a program developed and funded by the Ministry of Health. The objective of Medication Review Services is to increase communication between patient and pharmacist to promote safe and effective medication use and improve health outcomes. http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/newsletter/news11-004.pdf
- Effective August 1, 2011, the Ministry of Health updated the policies and procedures for medication review services. http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/pdf/mrs-faq.pdf.
- Effective September 30, 2011, the BC Smoking Cessation Program was launched. Pharmacists receive a dispensing fee for specified nicotine replacement therapy products, bupropion, and varenicline. This is not an enhancement in the scope of practice; rather, the nicotine replacement therapy products are additional drugs eligible for remuneration via dispensing fees.
- Effective April 1, 2012, the Pharmacy Services Agreement (PSA) ended. Legislation is in development regarding generic drug pricing reimbursement. http://www2.news.gov.bc.ca/news_releases_2009-2013/2012HLTH0018-000211.pdf
- Though the PSA ended, current BC PharmaCare policies, including clinical services fees and medication review services, will not change as a result of the termination. http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/pharmacare/newsletter/news12-005.pdf
Pharmacy Technician Regulation: