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Chapter 5
Methodological Appendix 

Table 5A-1    Drug categories 

Drug Category 

Drugs Included in Each Category 

NSAIDs 

   

Conventional 

Diclofenac
Diflunisol
Etodolac
Fenoprofen
Flurbiprofen
Ibuprofen
Indomethacin
Ketoprofen
Ketorolac 

Mefenamic Acid
Nabumetone
Naproxen
Oxaprozin
Piroxicam
Sulindac
Tenoxicam
Tiaprofenic Acid
Tolmetin 

COX-2 Inhibitors 

Celecoxib 

Rofecoxib 

Corticosteroids 

Betamethasone
Cortisone
Dexamethasone
Hydrocortisone 

Methylprednisolone
Prednisone
Prednisolone
Triamcinolone 

DMARDs 

Auranofin
Aurothioglucose
Azathioprine
Chloroquine
Cyclosporine
Hydroxychloroquine Sulfate 

Leflunomide
Methotrexate
Sodium Aurothiomalate
D-Penicillamine
Sulfasalazine 

N.B. The above listed drugs may have different coverage status in different provinces 



Table 5A-2 Details of provincial drug plans as of January 2003 

Provinces 

Who is Covered 

British Columbia 

People 65 years of age and older 

Residents of licensed long-term care facilities 

Residents eligible for British Columbia benefits (i.e. social assistance) 

Chronic disease patients (e.g. registered with a provincial Cystic Fibrosis Clinic) 

Low-income families 

Residents of the province under the age of 65 registered under the Medical Services 

Plan of British Columbia (once a deductible has been reached) 

Children eligible for medical or full benefits through the At Home Program of the Ministry for Children and Family Development 

Clients eligible for benefits through mental health centres 

Seniors have maximum contribution limits of $200-$275 depending on their incomes, while all other families are insured against “catastrophic” drug bills of over $2,000 per year. 

Alberta 

Alberta residents aged 65 and older 

All recipients aged 55-64 of the Alberta Widows' Pension and their dependents 

Subscribers are responsible for paying 30% of the cost, to a maximum of $25 for each prescription drug (some exceptions do exist for low income individuals). 

Saskatchewan 

All Saskatchewan residents are eligible for coverage under the Saskatchewan Prescription Drug Plan with the exception of those whose drug costs are covered by the federal government (e.g. Registered Indians). 

Manitoba 

Any Manitoban, regardless of age, whose income is seriously affected by high prescription drug costs; coverage is based on both total family income and the amount paid for eligible prescription drugs. 

Ontario 

People 65 years of age and over 

Residents of long-term care facilities 

Residents of Homes for Special Care 

People receiving professional services under the Home Care Program 

Social assistance recipients (General Welfare or Family Benefits Assistance) 

Quebec 

People 65 years of age and over 

People under 65 years who are not covered by a group plan and are not recipients of employment assistance (welfare) 

References 

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13.    Maetzel A, Strand V, Tugwell P, Wells G, Bombardier C.  Cost effectiveness of adding Leflunomide to a 5-year strategy of conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
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14.    American College of Rheumatology Ad Hoc Committee on Clinical Guidelines. Guidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 1996;39:713-22. 

15.    Lawrence RC, Helmick CG, Arnett FC, Deyo RA, Felson DT, Giannini EH, et al. Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and selected musculoskeletal disorders in the United States. Arthritis Rheum 1998;41(5):778-99. 

16.    Tugwell P. Pharmacoeconomics of drug therapy for rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology 2000;39(Suppl 1):43-47. 

17.    Callahan LF. The burden of rheumatoid arthritis: facts and figures. J Rheumatol 1998;25(Suppl 53):8. 

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