The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care has announced that the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) will no longer pay for more than 30 highly utilized antibiotic generic products.
On Jan. 1, 2008, generic manufacturers raised their prices by 20% to 90% for five classes of antibiotics, including Amoxicillin, Penicillin V, Cephalixin, Cloxacillin and Cefaclor.
In response to the significant price increases, the ODB Program changed the benefit status of more than 30 highly utilized, first line antibiotic generic products from “general benefit” to “not-a-benefit.”
A drug classified as “not-a-benefit” is not paid for by the ODB, but is still listed on the ODB formulary and considered eligible for inter-changeability with other listed products.
However, one generic drug product for each strength and dosage form, from each affected class of antibiotics, remains listed as a “general benefit” and is covered by the ODB.
For all residents of Ontario over the age of 65, including retirees and active at work employees, they will no longer have coverage through the ODB for these commonly prescribed antibiotics.
“Because only one antibiotic generic product remains listed as a “general benefit” and is covered by ODB, it has compounded the issue since many pharmacies do not carry the lone generic product that is covered,” says a note from Green Shield Canada.
“Pharmacies that carry the covered products are exhausting their supplies. Patients have the option to pay out-of-pocket for the non-covered drug, wait for the drug supply to come in for the sole covered drug in that class, or have the prescription changed to a covered drug in another class.”
To see the list of drugs that are affected by this change on the ministry’s website, click here.
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