PROVINCE CRACKS DOWN ON METHADONE DISTRIBUTORS

The provincial government is revamping billing procedures for pharmacies
that supply methadone to heroin addicts after some pharmacies were found
to be taking excessive profits from the prescription process and others
were giving kickbacks to addicts to attract their business.

Nadine Criddell, a spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health, confirmed the
changes but refused to confirm if any pharmacies in the Central Okanagan
were involved.

"I don't know how many pharmacies were involved but they were mostly in
the Lower Mainland," she said.

Criddell would also not reveal the names of the pharmacies in the Central
Okanagan that dispense methadone citing the negative reaction some
pharmacies have received when their participation in the program was revealed.

"It could create a problem within the community," she said. "Some people
don't agree with that type of program being in their area."

Criddell said some pharmacies were charging up to 26 cents a millilitre on
top of the cost of the methadone itself for the substance the drug is
mixed with before it is dispensed.

The average dose of methadone is estimated at 60 millilitres per day,
amounting to a $15 add-on to the daily fee pharmacies would charge per client.

The charge is legal because Pharmacare had established a range of between
two cents and 26 cents for the extra ingredients.

Criddell said most pharmacies were charging between two and four cents per
millilitre.

The changes to the program mean that beginning May 1, pharmacies that sign
on for the program will now be allowed to charge back the cost of the
methadone itself up to a maximum of two cents per millilitre, plus the
standard pharmacare dispensing fee.

As well, pharmacies can now charge a daily $7.70 "interaction fee" unique
to the methadone program, for each methadone prescription they fill.

"The interaction fee is in recognition of the unique process required to
mix methadone," Criddell said.

She was unable to provide the number of people in the Central Okanagan who
are on the methadone program but said there are 6,650 province-wide.

The Health Ministry spent $17.6 million on the program last year with $13
million of that going towards the actual cost of the drug and its mixing
ingredient.

Criddell said there are 275 pharmacies across the province who dispense
methadone as well as 487 physicians who are allowed to prescribe it.

The methadone program is administered by the B.C. College of Physicians and
Surgeons.

Changes to the program were brought about after consultation between that
college and the B.C College of Pharmacists and the B.C. Pharmacy Association.