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Outcomes-based drug coverage in British Columbia
Steven Morgan1, Ken Bassett, Barbara Mintzes
1University of British Columbia, Health Care and Epidemiology, Program in Pharmaceutical Policy, Centre for Health Services and Policy Research. morgan@chspr.ubc.ca
Health Affairs (Project Hope)
|May 27, 2004
Summary
British Columbia
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Pharmaceutical Policy
- Evidence-Based Medicine
Background:
- British Columbia's provincial drug plan (B.C. PharmaCare) utilizes scientific evidence for subsidy allocation.
- Coverage is contingent on manufacturers proving a comparative health outcome advantage over alternatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe lessons from British Columbia's experience with outcomes-based drug coverage.
- To inform other jurisdictions interested in evidence-based pharmaceutical policies.
Main Methods:
- Review of B.C. PharmaCare's decade-long implementation of evidence-based coverage policies.
- Description of the role of the Therapeutics Initiative in providing evidentiary support.
Main Results:
- B.C. PharmaCare has successfully implemented an outcomes-based drug coverage system.
- The Therapeutics Initiative has been crucial in supporting provincial decision-makers with evidence reviews.
Conclusions:
- Implementing evidence-based coverage requires a robust system for evidentiary review and support.
- The British Columbia model offers valuable insights for other jurisdictions seeking to base drug coverage on proven patient health advantages.