Continued
empathetic to someone who is stable with their bowel condition and is reluctant to change their brand. Financially, though, it is probably worth trying.
In Ontario, those with the provincial drug plan coverage are expected to try generic brands if they expect usual payment coverage. If adverse reactions occur with the generic brand, and it then becomes medically necessary to stay with the original brand, the physician must become involved. The doctor must file an Adverse Drug Report (ADR) with Health Canada. This is to document that an effort was made to use the generic brand, but it has become medically necessary to stay with the original brand. A copy of the form is to be provided to the pharmacy along with the “no sub” prescription for the brand product. This order then becomes a “request” to the drug plan, one could say, to once again pay fully for the original brand. (This, of course, presumes that the original brand drug is still part of the formulary.) Drug formularies and rules around “no sub” prescriptions are different in every province. Your pharmacist will know the details.
If you are not a beneficiary of the provincial drug plan but have private insurance through your employer, I suggest you first contact your insurance plan about their reduction in payment levels when brand names are dispensed. Ask if a submitted ADR form and a “no sub” prescription is enough for them to reconsider covering the original brand for you up to its full price. While insurance companies can often seem like the bearers and deciders of bad news, they ultimately are only doing what the employer has
instructed and agreed for them to do. Once you have spoken with the insurance company, your next place to start dialogue would be the Human Resources or Benefits Coordinator at your place of employment.
In Canada, some pharmaceutical manufacturers are offering to pay the difference between brand and generic products. Most of these situations are not for medications related to Crohn’s or colitis, but ask your pharmacist anyway.
It is my professional opinion that if you are taking one generic brand and your
condition stabilizes or goes into remission, it is wise to stay with that generic brand. Bioequivalence is a comparison of one generic brand against the original brand, and not a comparison of one generic brand against another. Different pharmacies have different policies about this, but many are willing to stock your brand to accommodate your needs. Canadian pharmacies have experienced some of the worst drug stock shortages ever in the last couple of years, and they are still a problem. At times, therefore, you will not have a choice of what brand you get, as there may only be one available.
T ank you to owner Mary Walker and her amazing team at the Tim Hortons in Georgetown, ON. T ey raised a total of $4,000 for CCFC at three store locations. Receiving the cheque are (from left): Halton Chapter President Greg Skrobar, Chapter Development Coordinator Penny Weir, franchise owner Mary Walker, Melissa Lane, Julie Korhonen, General Manager Peter Brozowicz, Sarah Dunphy, Tanya Drake and Erin Loughnan.
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