Several previously announced changes to pharmacy services and drug coverage are now taking effect in Alberta. These include longer prescription fills, updated daily dispensing rules, requiring available private drug benefits to be used before government drug plans, protections for employer-sponsored benefits for workers 65 and older, and updated requirements for pharmacy-distributed naloxone kits.

Updated dispensing for regular medications

Under the new pharmacy funding framework, Albertans who take medications for stable, ongoing health conditions will receive up to a three-month supply at once, meaning fewer pharmacy visits and dispensing fees throughout the year. Patients who require daily or more frequent dispensing will continue to receive it, ensuring those who need greater pharmacist oversight do not experience any interruption in service.

New limits for some compounded topical medications will help manage costs, without changing Albertans’ access to eligible medications.

Coordinating private and government-sponsored drug coverage

Albertans with private or employer-sponsored drug insurance will use those benefits before government-sponsored drug plans apply. If the private coverage is not available or is exhausted, including when an annual drug coverage limit is reached, government-sponsored coverage will continue to support eligible Albertans for eligible drug costs. This coordinated approach is used in other provinces and helps ensure public drug coverage remains available for those who need it most.

Albertans who continue working after age 65 will also be protected from having their employer-sponsored drug and supplemental health benefits ended, reduced or changed solely because of their age.

There are no changes for Albertans who only have government-sponsored drug coverage.

New requirements for pharmacy-distributed naloxone kits

Free naloxone kits will continue to be available through pharmacies and community organizations.

Albertans receiving a kit from a pharmacy will generally be asked to provide a valid Alberta health care card and will receive one kit at a time. In an emergency, a pharmacist can provide a kit without requiring a health care number if there is an immediate need to administer naloxone. Albertans who are not experiencing an emergency that want more than one kit may be directed to a community organization, where naloxone kits will continue to be available without these changes.

Together, these updates help maintain access to medications, drug coverage and pharmacy services while managing growing costs and ensuring public funding is focused where it is needed most.

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