The B.C. government has made two types of medication used for diabetes, heart failure and blood clots a regular benefit.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Health announced dapagliflozin (Forxiga) and apixaban (generics) will be expanded from limited coverage to regular benefit under BC PharmaCare.
The changes take effect Jan. 5.
Dapagliflozin is an approved medication by Health Canada to treat several conditions such as heart failure, Type 2 diabetes and chronic kidney failure. Previously, it was listed as a limited coverage benefit and about 2,000 patients use it. With the expansion to regular benefits, more than 5,000 people will be able to use it in the first year.
Apixaban is a blood thinner medication used to prevent or treat blood clots; about 45,000 patients in British Columbia use it. The expansion will help an additional 24,000 patients, says the B.C. government.
Along with these two medications, the ministry announced that two other medications will have their limited coverage criteria expanded so more patients will be eligible for coverage of the drugs.
Empagliflozin (Jardiance) and semaglutide (Ozempic) are two medications that work to lower blood sugar levels in adults with Type 2 diabetes and the expansion of coverage will make it easier for people to apply for coverage.
BC PharmaCare is a provincially funded program. For more information about the drugs that have been added, visit the province’s website.
