Due to ongoing job action within the BC government, the province’s Special Authority (SA) services are currently operating at reduced capacity. This has led to a significant increase in caseloads and delays in processing times for medication coverage requests. 

What is Special Authority?

Special Authority is a process through BC PharmaCare that enables patients to receive coverage for certain prescription drugs, medical supplies, or devices that are not automatically covered. Physicians or other prescribers submit requests on behalf of their patients, explaining why a specific medication or device is needed. Once approved, the patient’s PharmaCare plan helps cover the costs.

Current delays

The Special Authority team continues to prioritize urgent requests, aiming to process them within 1–2 business days. However, regular requests are currently delayed by up to 11 weeks, with further delays anticipated if job action persists. Visit the Special Authority website for the latest information on turnaround times and a list of SA requests (including medications and specific circumstances) that may be considered urgent.

What physicians can do

  • Use eForms whenever possible: Physicians are encouraged to submit Special Authority requests through SA eForms, which typically have faster turnaround times. Recent updates have also reduced the amount of transcription required and improved user experiences, enabling auto-adjudication of some items that provide decisions within hours. 
  • Continue submitting SA requests through usual channels: Both eForms and fax submissions are still accepted, and the SA phone line (+1 866 905-4912) remains open for urgent cases only, Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
  • Avoid duplicate requests: If the status of an application is unclear, please avoid resubmitting the same request, as this can further delay processing times. 
  • Encourage patients to check HealthGateway: Patients can check the status of their SA submissions through Health Gateway before purchasing medications and/or devices. Coverage is valid from the date the approval is entered in a patient's record on PharmaNet, and cannot be applied retroactively. (Note: faxed requests may take longer to appear as “received.”) 
  • Consider alternative options: Where appropriate, physicians may wish to explore alternative options that are fully covered under PharmaCare and do not require Special Authority approval. You can search for these options on the BC PharmaCare Formulary Search or the PharmaCare Drug Review Results. 

What patients can do

  • Check your request status online: If your doctor has submitted an SA request, visit Health Gateway to see if it has been approved.
  • Wait for approval before filling prescriptions: Coverage through PharmaCare begins only after SA approval and cannot be backdated once the medication is purchased.
  • Ask about alternative options: Talk to your doctor about whether there are alternative medications that are fully covered and do not require SA.
  • Expect delays and plan ahead: Due to processing delays, contact your doctor early if you think you may need a prescription renewal.

Doctors of BC, through the Administrative Burdens Working Group, continues to collaborate with representatives from the Ministry of Health, health authorities, and Health Quality BC to reduce administrative burdens and identify opportunities for improvement for both patients and health care professionals.