Health Canada’s Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program provides a limited range of non-insured health benefits to registered Indians, Inuit and Innu peoples of Canada. Clients from the Baffin do not qualify for ADP or CCAC assistance.
Many medication prescriptions are covered by NIHB. There are several classes of drugs: fully covered (only needs the script), covered by exception only (extra paperwork) , not covered.
The information needed on the prescription:
- 1. patient name and date of birth
2. physician’s first and last name (printed) & signature
3. physician’s phone number (office)
4. medication name. quantities and repeats
Note: On the script include all medications including OTC drugs since alot are covered under the NIHB program.
Fax the script to OHSNI’s nursing case managers at 613-523-8163. They will forward this fax to the pharmacy for processing.
The pharmacy will contact NIHB to determine if the drug costs are covered and if any additional paperwork is needed.
In case of medications that are covered by exception only, Health Canada sends OHSNI an exemption form for the physician to complete. OHSNI will fax this paperwork to the doctor for his signature. Then the completed form is to be re-faxed back to Health Canada and they will let the pharmacy know when the medication costs are approved. Approval of the exemptions can take 24-72 hours to obtain, longer if there is a delay in obtaining signatures, or the request needs to go to a NIHB review panel.
On the patient’s discharge, please, give the interpreter the original prescription. The pharmacy can not dispense medication without the original, unless the script is faxed directly to them from a hospital or doctor’s office. The interpreters can also ask the patient if they have any medication questions to ask their care providers before leaving the ward.
Many of the Nunavut patients have very little experience with written prescriptions. Except for in Iqaluit, there are no pharmacies in the Baffin area. The Health Center nurses dispense medications directly to their patients. OHSNI’s interpreters assist patients in obtaining their medicine and help the pharmacist by translating the labels in Inuktitut.
