Can Special Authority cover brand-name Vyvanse in BC or only the generic?

Special Authority in British Columbia can make lisdexamfetamine, the generic name for Vyvanse, a limited-coverage PharmaCare benefit when official criteria are met; that is not the same as a promise that brand-name Vyvanse will be paid in full if a generic exists. Special Authority is a BC PharmaCare clinical pre-approval process, not a federal program and not Plan G. The current limited-coverage page for lisdexamfetamine is for patients 6 and older with ADHD who need 12 hours of coverage and who tried immediate- or sustained-release methylphenidate or immediate- or sustained-release dextroamphetamine with unsatisfactory results after a minimum one-week adequate trial, or who had intolerance. Approval on that page is listed as indefinite once granted, but you should still check the live page because criteria change. When PharmaCare lists a generic, the Low Cost Alternative program generally reimburses brand product only up to the generic price, so a brand-name fill can leave a patient-pay difference even after Special Authority. 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 advice for others. My NP got Special Authority for lisdexamfetamine. The pharmacy filled generic and PharmaCare paid toward that. When I asked for brand Vyvanse, there was still a price gap and they mentioned Low Cost Alternative. My private plan did not wipe it out. I am not saying every plan or every pharmacy will treat brand the same way.