Drugs for the treatment of active or latent tuberculosis infection are funded by Public Health for any patient (regardless of permanent residence) who presents a prescription on which “TB Plan” is written by the prescriber.
New Brunswick Tuberculosis (TB) Drug Plan
Eligible Benefits
The drugs covered by the TB Plan are listed in the New Brunswick Drug Plans Formulary.
Regular benefits include amikacin, ethambutol, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, rifabutin and rifampin. Coverage of levofloxacin and moxifloxacin must be requested through special authorization and the criteria met in order to be approved.
Pharmacies are encouraged to confirm if the special authorization has been approved before ordering or dispensing the drug by calling the New Brunswick Drug Plans Inquiry line at 1-800-332-3691.
Drugs for an Urgent Public Health Need
The Access to Drugs in Exceptional Circumstances regulatory pathway enables the importation and sale of drugs that are not authorized in Canada but authorized for sale in another country to respond to an urgent public health need. A provincial/territorial public health official must make a request to the federal Minister of Health for the drug.
The List of Drugs for an Urgent Public Health Need identifies drugs that are eligible for importation into Canada and use in a specific Canadian jurisdiction for a period of 1 year.
Rifapentine
Rifapentine 150 mg tablet has been added to the List for the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. As a result, it has been added as a temporary regular benefit under the TB Plan. Rifapentine will be ordered from the manufacturer by Horizon Health (Saint John Regional Hospital) and provided to the patient’s community pharmacy at no cost. Participating providers must submit claims for rifapentine as outlined below and use PIN 00904822 with zero entered in the drug cost and cost upcharge fields.
Claim Submissions
Claims submitted by participating providers must include the following information:
| Field | Information Required |
| Carrier ID | NB |
| Group Number or Code | P (Note: this also applies to New Brunswick Drug Plans beneficiaries.) |
| 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 | |
| Prescriber ID Reference Code | |
| DIN / PIN | Drug Identification Number / Product Identification Number |
| Quantity | Quantity dispensed |
| Drug Cost / Product Value | Refer to Dispensing Fees and Drug Cost Reimbursement |
| Cost Upcharge | |
| Dispensing Fee |
Refer to Dispensing Fees and Drug Cost Reimbursement |
Pharmacy Audits
All claims submitted by participating providers for payment are subject to audit and recovery.