The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Another step in the improvement of Manitoba's pharmacare program was taken this week with a new initiative that will give Manitobans with high drug costs relative to their income the option to pay their pharmacare deductible in monthly installments, Health Minister Tim Sale has announced. "The rising costs of prescription drugs continue to present challenges to government and to individual Manitobans," said Sale. "This income-based program is designed to help those with high drug bills finance their share of prescription drug costs more manageably." To participate in the program, beneficiaries must have a monthly drug expense that equals or exceeds 25 per cent of their monthly income. It is not assessed by age, disease or on which member of a family requires medication. It is estimated that 19,000 pharmacare beneficiaries are eligible to participate in the monthly deductible installment program. The Manitoba Society of Pharmacists will administer the new program. Sale also announced that people utilizing this new program will be able to pay their monthly deductible through Manitoba Hydro's bill payment system. "We are pleased to be able to assist in making this monthly payment of the pharmacare deductible possible, utilizing our existing billing system and reaching virtually all Manitobans who might make use of this option," said Bob Brennan, president and CEO of Manitoba Hydro. Greatest Percentage According to the Canadian Institute of Health Information in 2005, 50.9 per cent of prescribed drugs in Manitoba were covered publicly, the greatest percentage of any province in Canada. Manitoba's pharmacare covers 100 per cent of drug costs once the income-based deductible is reached. Manitoba and the Yukon are the only two jurisdictions with a deductible structure as the sole cost-sharing requirement. The new system is expected to be in place in the fall of 2006. Manitoba pharmacare is a universal, comprehensive prescription drug benefit program for any Manitoban regardless of age or disease who meets the deductible criteria for eligible prescription drug costs. The deductible system ensures pharmacare's resources are targeted to those who need the support most and ensures drug expenses remain relative to total family income. Pharmacare currently lists approximately 5,000 drugs.
