Smoking Cessation Program – information for health professionals

On this page: Overview | Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) |​ Prescription drugs | Exceptions | Switching treatment types | Eligible products |​ Resources

Overview

The BC Smoking Cessation Program helps eligible B.C. residents of any age quit cigarettes or other tobacco products.

Full details in Smoking Cessation Program — Section 5.20, PharmaCare Policy Manual.

The program:

• May cover some or all of the cost of specific prescription smoking cessation drugs, with depending on patient’s PharmaCare plan
• Covers the full cost of specific non-prescription nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) products such as patches and gum

Note: Champix was discontinued on April 11, 2024. The program previously covered Champix.

 

Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

PharmaCare covers 100% of the cost of one continuous 12-week course of nicotine gum, lozenges or patches in one calendar year for anyone who:

• Is a B.C. resident with active Medical Services Plan (MSP) coverage
• Uses tobacco (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco)
• Has not reached their annual limit of NRTs covered by PharmaCare (12 weeks per year)

People covered by a federal drug plan may have coverage for NRTs under that plan. They can choose whether to use PharmaCare or their federal plan to cover NRTs.

Refer to Eligible products for the full list of covered NRTs.

Pharmacists can fill a maximum 28-day supply of an NRT per dispense. All three 28-day dispenses must be filled continuously, within the 12-week timeframe.

How someone gets coverage for NRTs

The patient either:

• Selects NRTs in a pharmacy (no prescription needed), or
• Requests a Minor Ailment and Contraception Service (MACS) assessment for nicotine dependence; the pharmacist recommends NRTs as part of a treatment plan

The pharmacist completes and the patient signs a BC Smoking Cessation Program Declaration and Notification form (PDF, 563KB). If a MACS assessment was carried out, the pharmacist must document this using the MACS form (PDF, 705KB).

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Prescription drugs

Each calendar year, PharmaCare will cover one continuous 12-week course of treatment with bupropion (Zyban^® brand only) or varenicline (generics).

• For those covered by Fair PharmaCare, the cost depends on whether they have met their annual deductible and family maximum. People need to be registered for Fair PharmaCare before picking up a prescription
• PharmaCare covers the full cost for people covered by plans B, C, G, or W

Pharmacists can fill a maximum 28-day supply of Zyban^® or varenicline per dispense. All three 28-day dispenses must be filled continuously, within the 12-week timeframe.

How to prescribe so drugs are covered

Patients do need a prescription from a physician, pharmacist or other prescriber (for prescription drugs, not NRT) which specifies:

1. "Smoking cessation" as the indication
2. "No substitutions"
3. "Dispense in 28-day supply"

Notes: 

• PharmaCare covers only the Zyban^® brand of bupropion for smoking cessation. Wellbutrin^®, Wellbutrin XL^® and generic bupropion are not covered for this indication
• PharmaCare only fully covers generic versions of varenicline
• View eligible products for details

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Exceptions

If a person needs to stop their treatment with NRTs before the 12-week course is complete, they may contact PharmaCare to request coverage for the remainder of the 12-week course when they are ready to resume NRT.

Switching treatment types

 A patient may be able to switch treatment type partway through a 12-week course.

• To switch from one NRT product to another, the patient simply requests this at the pharmacy
• To switch from one prescription drug to another, a prescriber (physician, pharmacist or other prescriber) must submit a Special Authority request
• To switch from an NRT product to a prescription drug, the patient will usually have to wait until the next calendar year to get PharmaCare coverage. In some cases, PharmaCare may allow the switch in the same year. A prescriber will need to submit a Special Authority request
• Switching from a prescription drug to an NRT product: If PharmaCare has provided any coverage for the prescription drug, PharmaCare may cover a switch to NRTs in the same year with an approved Special Authority request. If PharmaCare did not help with the cost of the prescription drug, the patient can switch to NRTs and have them fully covered by speaking to a pharmacist

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Eligible products

Smoking cessation prescription drugs

Generic name	Brand name	Dosage type	Strength	DIN
bupropion1	Zyban®	tablet ER	150 mg	2238441
varenicline	Apo-Varenicline	tablet	0.5 mg	2419882
varenicline	Apo-Varenicline	tablet	1 mg	2419890
varenicline	Apo-Varenicline	tablet DS PK	0.5 mg and 1 mg	2435675
varenicline	Teva-Varenicline	tablet DS PK	0.5 mg and 1 mg	2426781

¹ PharmaCare covers only the Zyban^® brand of bupropion. Wellbutrin^®, Wellbutrin XL^®, and generic bupropion are not covered as smoking cessation prescription drugs.

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 Nicotine replacement therapy products (NRTs)

Brand name	Product type	Strength	Pack size	Natural product number (NPN)
Nicorette®	gum1	2  mg	105	80069513
Nicorette®	gum1	4 mg	105	80069471
Nicorette®	lozenge2	2 mg	80	80110858
Nicorette®	lozenge2	4 mg	80	80112095
Nicoderm® Step 1	patch	21 mg	7	80044515
Nicoderm® Step 2	patch	14 mg	7	80044503
Nicoderm® Step 3	patch	7 mg	7	80044518

¹ Nicorette^®  gum flavour: ultra fresh mint only.

 ² Nicorette^® lozenge flavour: mint only.

Resources

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