Drug Benefit List (DBL)
Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List
Cancer drugs
Alberta Health Services provides select medications to patients at no cost through its Outpatient Cancer Drug Benefit Program.
The Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List defines the prescription drugs and drug products covered by the ministry's supplemental health plans.
- Over 4,000 drugs are listed as benefits.
- The Drug Benefit List is routinely updated on a quarterly basis and is available for viewing at the link above or all Alberta pharmacies.
- Read the Drug Benefit List
These listings are not intended to be used as scientific references or prescribing guides. Prices printed in the Drug Benefit List and the supplements do not reflect additional charges such as dispensing fees.
The following drugs are NOT covered by the supplemental benefit health plans –
- Drugs used primarily in hospitals (these are provided by Alberta Health Services)
- Childhood vaccinations (these are provided by Alberta Health Services)
- Drugs used in the direct treatment of cancer
- Read more about the Outpatient Cancer Drug Benefit Program
- Read the current Schedule of Cancer Drugs (Legislation / Ministerial Orders)
- Drugs used to treat tuberculosis (these are provided by Disease Control and Prevention)
- Drugs used to treat sexually transmitted diseases (these are provided by Disease Control and Prevention)
- Drugs used in erectile dysfunction (not insured)
- Most over-the-counter preparations (not insured)
Types of coverage
1. Regular benefits
Most drugs are classified as "regular" benefits.
2. Special authorization benefits
Special authorization is a mechanism to ensure that high cost drugs are used according to defined clinical criteria. Through special authorization, drugs that are not regular benefits may be considered for a specific patient. Special authorization request forms are completed by physicians and reviewed by clinical pharmacists. Prior approval must be granted to ensure coverage by special authorization.
3. Restricted benefits
A small number of drugs are restricted to specific age groups.
Drug price policies
1. Least cost alternative (LCA)
LCA is the lowest unit cost established for a drug product within a set of interchangeable drug products. Alberta's supplemental health plans will only pay for the lowest-priced drug product where interchangeable (generic) products can be used to fill a prescription. Beneficiaries who choose higher-cost alternatives are responsible for paying the difference in price.
2. Maximum allowable cost (MAC)
MAC is the maximum unit cost established for a specific drug product or a selected group of interchangeable drug products. A small number of products are subject to MAC pricing.
3. Actual acquisition cost (AAC)
AAC is the amount pharmacists are expected to charge Alberta's supplemental health plans for a drug product. For interchangeable drug products, pharmacists can only charge the AAC to a maximum of the LCA price.
- The drug review process determines inclusion of new drug products in the Alberta Health and Wellness Drug Benefit List.
