November 16, 2013
Dear Physician and Eye Care Provider:
Re: Provincial Retinal Diseases Treatment Program
We are pleased to announce that the Provincial AMD Treatment Program will be renamed the Provincial Retinal Diseases Treatment Program and drug therapy coverage under the Program will be expanded to include bevacizumab (Avastin®) and ranibizumab (Lucentis®) for the treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema (DME) and Retinal Vein Occlusion (RVO) when prescribed and administered by Retinal Specialists.
Under the new Program, drug coverage will continue to be available for the wet form of Age‐related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Here is a list of the drugs and indications covered under the new Provincial Retinal Diseases Treatment Program:
table with 2 columns and 4 rows
Drug Therapy*
Indication
bevacizumab (Avastin®)
AMD, DME, RVO
ranibizumab (Lucentis®)
AMD, DME, RVO
verteporfin (Visudyne®)/Photo Dynamic Therapy
AMD
table end
*covered when treatment is prescribed and administered by Retinal Specialists
Program funding and administration continues to be provided through the Provincial Health Services Authority.
Please note:
• Health providers and Optometrists can refer new patients directly to a Retinal Specialist for diagnosis and treatment —Retinal Specialist contact information by location is attached.
• Drug therapy for other retinal disease indications other than wet AMD, DME, AND RVO are not covered.
• Retinal Specialist services are available in all regional Health Authorities—As is currently the case, some patient travel within a Health Authority may be required. To improve patient access, visiting Retinal Specialists services have been established in Cranbrook, Fort St. John, Terrace, Vernon, Salmon Arm and Nelson. Ease of access for patients will continue to be monitored in collaboration
with the regional Health Authorities and the Retinal Specialists and improvements will be made where reasonable to do so.
• Drug safety and effectiveness will continue to be monitored and evaluated as a part of the ongoing Program administration.
list end
Should you have any questions, contact the Provincial Retinal Diseases Treatment Program at 700 - 1380 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2H3 or call (604) 675‐7420.
Sincerely,
David Babiuk, Eric Lun, PharmD
Provincial Executive Director Executive Director