Alberta Government Announces Prescription Renewal Payment for Pharmacists

Abstract

Five years after Alberta pharmacists became the first in Canada to acquire the authority to renew, modify and in some cases, prescribe medications, the Alberta government has announced that pharmacists will be paid to provide prescription renewals to their patients. The announcement came in the provincial budget delivered on February 13, 2012. Effective July 1, the province will pay pharmacists $20 for each prescription renewal — projected to cost the government $20 million in 2012–13. Also on July 1, the government will start providing pharmacies in remote communities with a monthly grant to help them adjust to lower generic drug prices that take effect at the same time. The grant payments are to total $15.9 million over 3 years. In 2010, Alberta introduced a 3-year Transition Allowance, providing additional payment on dispensing fees for prescriptions under $75. The allowance will be phased out after 2012–13. The province plans to reduce the prices it pays for generic drugs starting July 1 as well; currently, the price is 45% of the name-brand price. The size of the reduction has not yet been announced, as the government continues negotiations with pharmacists; however, the province says its goal is to save $85 million a year in drug spending. The province amended regulations in 2007 to expand pharmacists' scope of practice, and Alberta pharmacists and the Ministry of Health and Wellness have been negotiating a professional services compensation framework since 2009. Additional pharmacy services and compensation models, says the government, are to be announced in the coming months.