Do I have to try Ritalin first before Special Authority will cover Biphentin in BC?

BC PharmaCare does not currently present Biphentin as a listed limited-coverage methylphenidate product on the official methylphenidate page, so the practical question is not whether you must try Ritalin first so Special Authority will cover Biphentin. That page currently lists Concerta, including listed generics, and Foquest, not Biphentin, and there is no uniform official confirmation there that Biphentin is a current benefit. Check the live Special Authority drug list before assuming any Biphentin public-coverage pathway exists. Coverage varies by province. Coverage varies by insurance plan. Rules, coverage and referral pathways vary by province and can change; confirm the current position with the relevant institution or provincial program. References: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/bcs-primary-care-system/provincial-attachment-system https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-medication/prescription-stimulants.html https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng87/chapter/recommendations

This is only my personal experience in B.C., not a rule. I was told I needed a Ritalin trial before Biphentin would be covered. When we looked at the official methylphenidate limited-coverage page, Biphentin was not listed; Concerta and Foquest were. We did not complete a Ritalin-then-Biphentin Special Authority path because the clinic said to check the live drug list first. I am not speaking for other patients.