Palliative Care (Plan P)

The BC Palliative Care Benefits program is available to B.C. residents with active MSP coverage, who have reached the end stage of a life-threatening disease or illness and wish to receive palliative care wherever they are living. This can be in their own home, with family or friends, in a supportive/assisted living residence, or in a hospice unit at a residential care facility (e.g., a community hospice bed that is not covered under PharmaCare’s Long-term Care Plan (Plan B)).

Eligible patients receive:

• 100% coverage of prescribed and over-the-counter palliative medications in the Plan P (Palliative Care) formulary, and
• Medical supplies and equipment through the local health authority

Eligibility

Coverage is for B.C. residents of any age who:

• Are living in their own home; with family or friends; in a supportive or assisted living residence; a hospice unit in a long-term care facility (e.g., a community hospice bed not covered under PharmaCare Plan B)
• Have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness or condition
• Have a life expectancy of up to six months, and
• Consent to the focus of care being palliative rather than treatment aimed at cure

Coverage does not extend to patients in acute care.

Registration

A physician or nurse practitioner registers individuals for the BC Palliative Care Benefits program.

1. They confirm indicators of poor and deteriorating health and a life-limiting condition(s) in the Supportive and Palliative Care Indicators Tool (SPICT™) on the BC Palliative Care Benefits Registration form (PDF, 389KB), and
2. They complete and fax copies of the BC Palliative Care Benefits Registration form (PDF, 389KB) to PharmaCare and to the local health authority (to assess for medical supplies and equipment). The form is usually processed within 12 hours.

Read Palliative Care (Plan P) — Section 7.8, PharmaCare Policy Manual to learn about:

• Special Authority coverage for drugs not in the Plan P formulary
• Registering new B.C.residents not yet actively enrolled in MSP

Resources

• BC Palliative Care Benefits Registration Form (HLTH 349) (PDF, 389KB)
• Plan P formulary
• Palliative Care (Plan P) — Section 7.8, PharmaCare Policy Manual
• Prescriber Guide (PDF, 1.0MB)
• Patient Information Sheet (PDF, 475KB) - available in multiple languages