Government of New Brunswick

Assessment and Prescribing for Conjunctivitis by Pharmacists

Overview


The assessment and prescribing for conjunctivitis by a pharmacist may be eligible for coverage by the Department of Health effective October 3, 2023. Each patient is eligible for a maximum of two (2) conjunctivitis assessments per one-year period.

This program does not cover drugs, or the costs associated with dispensing or administering drugs.

The assessment and prescribing service is not eligible if the patient qualifies for a prescription renewal service under the Prescription Renewals by Pharmacists program.

Eligibility


Assessment of conjunctivitis, with or without prescribing, may be eligible for coverage provided all the following criteria are met:

Patient

  • The patient presents with symptoms characteristic of conjunctivitis.
  • The patient is 1 year of age or older.
  • The patient must have a valid Medicare card and not reside in a nursing home or a correctional facility.
  • A maximum of two (2) conjunctivitis assessment services per patient within the past 12 months.

Pharmacist

  • The service is conducted in person by a pharmacist licensed with the NB College of Pharmacists (NBCP).
  • The pharmacist must comply with all applicable NBCP requirements and standards.
  • The pharmacist must obtain consent from the patient, legal guardian, or substitute decision maker for the service being provided.  
  • The pharmacist must document a follow-up plan that is sufficiently detailed to monitor the patient’s progress and ensure continuity of care.
  • When prescribing a drug, the pharmacist will notify the patient’s physician or nurse practitioner when one exists. If one does not exist, the pharmacist will provide the patient with a copy of this notification.

Prescription

  • If a Schedule 1 drug is prescribed, it must be:
    • dispensed on the same day as the assessment is submitted for payment; and
    • dispensed from the pharmacy submitting the assessment, unless the patient chooses to fill the prescription at another pharmacy, however this must be documented on the assessment and prescribing tool.
  • If an over-the-counter (OTC) product is prescribed, it must be:
    • approved by Health Canada for conjunctivitis or is widely accepted as best practice in Canada and supported by medical literature demonstrating safety and efficacy for conjunctivitis; and
    • provided to the patient with specific dosing instructions.
  • If OTC products are provided to the patient without documented specific instructions for use, the assessment fee is not eligible.
 

Eligible Services and Fees


The Department of Health will pay participating providers for each claim billed for eligible patients in New Brunswick. The participating provider is not permitted to charge additional fees to the patient for services which have been paid for by the Department of Health.

Patients who present with ocular and nasal symptoms of seasonal allergies can be assessed for both allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis. However, payment is limited to one assessment fee.

The applicable assessment fees are outlined below:

Table 1

Assessment

 PIN

Fee

Conjunctivitis assessment that results in a prescription

00600002

$20

Conjunctivitis assessment that results in OTC product recommendation

00600003

$20

Conjunctivitis assessment that results in both a prescription and OTC product recommendation

00600004

$20

Conjunctivitis assessment that does not result in a prescription or OTC product recommendation

00600005

$20
 

Documentation Requirements


Pharmacists must document how the patient meets the eligibility criteria for this policy and use an appropriate assessment and prescribing tool.

The assessment and prescribing tool must be used to document the following (as applicable):

  • Patient, legal guardian, substitute decision maker consent
  • Patient assessment
  • Treatment plan, including:
    • Prescription(s)
    • Specific instructions for use for over-the-counter products
  • Follow-up plan
  • Referral
  • Notification of the patient’s physician or nurse practitioner when one exists. If one does not exist, the pharmacist will document that they have provided the patient with a copy of this notification.
  • Completed follow-up information
 

Claim Submission


Manual claims will not be accepted. Claims must be submitted online and include the following information:

Field

Information Required

Carrier ID

NB

Group Number or Code

M

Client ID

Patient’s NB Medicare number.  (Note: this also applies to New Brunswick Drug Plans beneficiaries.)

Patient Code

Leave Blank

Patient Name

Patient’s first and last name

Patient DOB

Patient’s date of birth

Prescriber ID

New Brunswick College of Pharmacists Licence Number of the prescribing pharmacist.

Prescriber ID Reference Code

46

DIN / PIN

Refer to Table 1

Quantity

1

Days Supply

1

Drug Cost / Product Value

Zero

Cost Upcharge

Zero

Professional Fee

$20.00
 

Pharmacy Audits


All claims submitted by participating providers for reimbursement are subject to audit and recovery.

 

Service Exclusions


Claims for service fees for providing the following types of assessment services are excluded:

  • Assessments resulting in the following therapies:
    • Over-the-counter products provided to the patient without documented specific instructions for use.
    • Over-the-counter products not approved by Health Canada for the treatment of conjunctivitis, or not widely accepted as best practice in Canada and supported by medical literature demonstrating safety and efficacy for conjunctivitis.