Ontario Public Drug Programs

Exceptional Access Program

The Exceptional Access Program (EAP) facilitates patient access to drugs not funded on the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Formulary, or where no listed alternative is available. In order to receive coverage, the patient must be eligible to receive benefits under the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) program.

The Executive Officer, on behalf of the ministry, makes funding decisions for drug products covered under the ODB program's EAP based on recommendations and guidelines from the ministry's expert advisory committee, the Committee to Evaluate Drugs (CED). All EAP requests will be considered according to the policies described below to ensure a fair and consistent review of each request. Other modernization initiatives will minimize the impact of the EAP on prescribers and will make the process more transparent to prescribers and patients.

Funding Decision

Typically the CED recommends consideration through EAP for drug products where strong clinical evidence is not available to support efficacy and/or cost-effectiveness, when compared to other drugs already funded through the ODB program.

EAP requests are only considered for a drug or indication which has been approved for funding by the Executive Officer. For manufacturer-initiated reviews, each complete submission undergoes a rigorous review by the CED. The CED then makes recommendations to the Executive Officer as to whether a drug product should be listed as a Formulary benefit or designated as an interchangeable drug product (for generic drugs). The CED also makes recommendations as to whether or not drug products should be available through EAP, and may develop clinical criteria. Please note, the EAP does not consider funding for non-drug products which includes diabetic test strips, medical or assistive devices, natural health products, or nutritional products. Please refer to the ODB formulary for nutritional products and diabetic test strips that are covered on the ODB Program.

The Executive Officer may also request that the CED perform a review and provide a recommendation for a drug or indication in the absence of a manufacturer submission for the purposes of consideration under EAP. Normally, this occurs for indications which have not been approved by Health Canada (i.e., off-label indications). For Health Canada approved indications, the onus is on the manufacturer to submit information to the Ontario Public Drug Programs to request a product review.

Following the CED's review, the Executive Officer makes the final decision regarding the reimbursement of the product.

EAP Criteria

For a drug to be considered for funding, the EAP reimbursement criteria must always be met and the request approved prior to the initiation of treatment with the drug being requested, unless otherwise specified within the criteria. This includes:

funding for continued treatment that was previously supplied through a clinical trial, or paid for by other means (such as a third party payer)
Note: First time applications for the funding of ongoing treatments must meet both initial and renewal criteria for the drug being requested (unless otherwise specified)
funding for a renewal beyond the previously approved initial period, unless otherwise specified.

Selected drug-specific criteria used in the consideration of EAP requests are available on the ministry website at: www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/eap_criteria.aspx in order to improve transparency and assist physicians in making EAP drug requests.

EAP Application Process: How to Apply

To apply through EAP, the patient's physician must submit a request documenting complete and relevant medical information to the ministry, providing the clinical rationale for requesting the unlisted drug and reasons why covered benefits are not suitable. All requests are reviewed according to the guidelines and criteria recommended by the CED and approved by the EO. This review include a thorough assessment of the patient's specific case and clinical circumstances, as provided by the physician, as well as the scientific evidence available. If EAP approval is granted, the coverage period begins as of the effective date and extends only to the specified date.

To assist physicians applying for exceptional access, the ministry has developed a standard form. In addition, for a limited group of drugs, physicians can call to submit requests through the Telephone Request Service (TRS) and obtain faster approvals for patients who qualify.

Compassionate Review Policy

Where there are rare clinical circumstances in immediately life-, limb-, or organ-threatening conditions, the Executive Officer will also consider requests for drugs or indications in the absence of a final funding decision. Requests must meet the criteria for the Compassionate Review Policy.

Note: For cancer drugs, Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) administers the Case-by-Case Review Program (CBCRP) on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The new CBCRP extends and adapts the Compassionate Review Policy to therapies that will be administered in cancer centres and hospitals.

The CBCRP considers funding requests for cancer drugs (both oral therapies and injectable drugs) for cancer patients who have a rare clinical circumstance that is immediately life threatening (i.e. death is likely within a matter of months) and who require treatment with an unfunded drug, because there is no other satisfactory and funded treatment. Program policies, FAQs, eligibility criteria and how to apply to the CBCRP online are on the CCO website at: www.cancercare.on.ca/cbcrp.

While CCO will administer the CBCRP, the Executive Officer of Ontario Public Drug Programs makes all final funding decisions.

Funding for Drugs being used in Clinical Trials

This section is intended to clarify the circumstances in which EAP funding will be considered for drugs being used within the context of a clinical trial. Generally, the ODB program does not fund drugs being studied under a clinical trial. These costs should be funded by the trial organizer and accounted for within the study budget. Supportive therapies will be considered for funding under all of the following circumstances:

Funding will only be considered for ODB eligible recipients (must be ODB eligible at the time of enrolment in the trial)
Funding will only be considered for products currently funded by the OPDP according to their approved criteria.
The EAP request should indicate that the requested product is being used as supportive therapy as part of a clinical trial.

Manufacturer sponsored trials will be excluded, and it is expected that manufacturers will provide funding for study treatments as part of the trial budget. For trials that are not manufacturer sponsored, investigators are asked to provide prior notification to the ministry of impending requests for funding of supportive therapies for a clinical trial. Requestors should indicate trial details, funding details, patient numbers, and timelines for their request prior to submitting the first request to EAP. Please contact an EAP Operations Manager at the address below.

Inquiries regarding the Exceptional Access Program should be directed to:

E-mail: EAPFeedback.MOH@ontario.ca
Phone: 416-327-8109 or 1-866-811-9893
Fax: 416-327-7526 or 1-866-811-9908

Exceptional Access Program
3rd Floor, 5700 Yonge St.
North York, ON M2M 4K5

Ministry Status: Activation Status