Patient Support Programs
Patient-focused adaptations
If you’re living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), primarily Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and are taking a biologic medication, then patient support programs (PSPs) are useful in helping you manage your treatments. Biologics are highly effective medicines made in living cells used to treat chronic inflammatory diseases and other conditions, including IBD, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. You take these medicines either by infusion or self-injection, depending on the product. Biosimilars are highly similar to an originator (or reference) biologic that is no longer protected under patent.
Since 2019, several provincial governments, beginning with BC, have decided to only provide coverage for biosimilars, meaning that patients who were on originator biologics must switch medications. This is known as non-medical switching (NMS), as there was no medical reason for the patient to change the medicine their physician prescribed. Unlike generic drugs, biosimilars are not identical and the process of switching these medications is more complex. Learn more about these policies.
PSPs assist patients with the scheduling and administration of biologics, provide additional medical information, and help navigate coverage options. During the early policy implementation days, patients also had to switch to a different PSP, which were proprietary to the drug manufacturer. Canada is the only country in the world where pharmaceutical companies fund these free-to-the-consumer programs. Switching medication was one thing but switching to a different PSP was an added stressor for patients, especially during the pandemic.
In a recent example of patient-focused adaptation, McKesson Canada developed a network of PSPs, in some provinces, so that if you need to switch your medication, it is likely that you can stay affiliated with the same program, as they now administer both originator biologics and their corresponding biosimilars.
McKesson has also ensured a single point of contact for healthcare professionals so that when your gastroenterologist prescribes an originator biologic or a biosimilar, the PSP navigation team will work with them to complete all the necessary steps, including arranging any required testing, completing paperwork, and communications with a specialty pharmacy for dispensing and shipping your medications.
PSPs continue to operate clinics throughout the pandemic without affecting quality of care.1 To ensure safety, everyone onsite must wear masks and follow other COVID-19 protocols. Don’t worry, staff will tell you in advance what to expect, and there will be pre-screening measures both a few days before and on the day of your appointment. Most PSPs have installed transparent plexiglass barriers and increased the distance between chairs to give more protection from virus transmission during an infusion.
If you will be self-injecting, then nurses provide initial training over the phone, send a video tutorial for you to review, and give you a follow-up call.
While they have shifted to virtual meetings whenever appropriate, if you experience any difficulties with your video or internet connection, then staff will call you instead. Home care is another option available in some communities. Ask your patient support program for more information on what services are available for you.
Vaccine Update
Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 and from severe symptoms and death in the unlikely event that the vaccination does not completely protect you. Physicians and public health officers have recommended three consecutive COVID-19 vaccines for those with IBD and other immune-compromised persons at this time. Consult your doctor about your options. The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, a national membership of 99% of the life and health insurance companies in the country, publicly stated that vaccination does not have any impact on your coverage.2