Drugs and Devices
Frequently Asked Questions
General
What is SADIE?
SADIE (the Special Authorization Digital Information Exchange) is the portal for submitting Exceptional Access Program (EAP) drug requests for Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) recipients. SADIE is available to Prescribers (Ontario Physicians and Nurse Practitioners) and their assigned delegates/designates. It is a user-friendly system that is easy to navigate and provides a step-by-step approach to creating your requests.
You can use SADIE to:
- Submit requests electronically for ALL EAP funded drugs, with a criteria-specific smart form for many EAP drugs and indications
- Track the status of your EAP requests online and access the Ministry response letters
- Research which drugs are covered for which indications
- Find out what clinical information is required for each request
How do I login to access SADIE?
Prescribers (Ontario physicians and nurse practitioners) who are registered for GO Secure and have an OHIP billing number are automatically able to access SADIE by visiting www.ontario.ca/SADIE and clicking on the SADIE Login button.
Persons that have been assigned as delegates or designates of a prescriber both, in GO Secure and SADIE, can also access the portal.
For more information and instructions about setting up authorized users in SADIE, see the Quick Reference – How to Set-up a Delegate or Designate guide.
For instructions on how to access SADIE as a prescriber, delegate, or designate, please visit the “Help Accessing SADIE” page on: Ontario.ca/SADIE.
Can I still use fax to submit my EAP Requests?
As we continue to modernize the EAP and transition away from the fax-based process, prescribers can assign delegates in SADIE who can work on their behalf to create and submit requests to the EAP. You can still submit by fax - all existing channels to submit EAP requests remain available.
We encourage you to submit requests through SADIE, as results have shown 75% fewer requests for additional information, and EAP decision times have been cut by an average of 50% compared to faxed in requests.
Why do I see a ‘Welcome to SADIE’ screen when I am logging in, with a link for Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)?
In addition to the Exceptional Access Program (EAP), SADIE is being used by other government programs, such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
On the ‘Program Selection’ screen (a.k.a. ‘Welcome to SADIE’ screen), select the Exceptional Access Program (EAP) link in order to access SADIE for the Exceptional Access Program.
Is SADIE available to use in French?
This application is technical in nature and is available in English only due to its limited targeted audience. This application has been exempted from translation under the French Language Services Act as per O. Reg. 671/92.
Cette application est de nature technique et est disponible en anglais uniquement en raison de son public cible limité. Cette application a été exemptée de la traduction en vertu de la Loi sur les services en français selon le règlement 671/92.
Are training materials available?
Yes, the SADIE user guide, training videos, and a set of quick guides to get you quickly started are available on: health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/sadie/training.
How do I know if my request was successfully submitted?
Once submitted, prescribers and delegates are presented with an option to download/print a copy of the request. When you receive the prompt, this is confirmation that the request was submitted, even if you do not download and/or print the request pdf.
The submitted request can also be found at anytime in the ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’ list or the ‘Submitted Requests with Ministry Decision’ list by selecting ‘View Submissions’ in the menu.Who can I contact to request new features or provide feedback?
The SADIE Team can be reached at sadie@ontario.ca. The team is happy to hear from you and considers all input when prioritizing new feature development.
Using SADIE
Which drugs and for which indications can I submit requests through SADIE?
SADIE provides prescribers the ability to submit requests electronically for ALL EAP funded drugs. Some drugs and indications will be presented on criteria-specific smart forms.
I cannot find a saved request in the ‘Requests in Progress’ list on the homepage.
Requests in the ‘Requests in Progress’ list or the ‘Requests Ready to Submit’ list that have not been modified within the last 30 days are deleted for patient privacy and security reasons.
How can I view the details for a request that has been submitted to EAP?
All users can see requests for locations (practice locations) they have access to by selecting ‘View submitted’ in the menu to display the ‘View Submitted’ screen to see requests submitted to the EAP through any method (i.e. SADIE, TRS, Fax, Mail).
The ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’ list displays requests awaiting an assessment outcome to be completed.
The ‘Submitted Requests With Ministry Decision’ list displays requests that have been assessed, along with their decisions and response letters.
Note: Prescribers and delegates have access to requests for all locations (practice locations) but designates only have access to requests for locations they have been assigned to.
I am not able to type dates.
Fields requiring a date input can only be entered by opening the calendar control. Click anywhere in a field that contains the calendar icon to select a date.
The SADIE User Guide (Appendix B) has specific instructions on how to use the calendar controls. The guide is available on: health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/sadie/training/.
What is a location (or practice location) in SADIE?
A location is typically a physical address where a prescriber provides services to patients (i.e. a prescriber’s office, clinic, hospital).
Requests are associated with locations, which allows prescribers to determine which designates can view specific requests. Designates are assigned to location(s) and they only see saved requests, submitted requests, and assessment results for their assigned location(s), to ensure that patients’ personal health information is protected.
To support the current prescriber workflow of having a Patient Support Program (PSP) or Drug Access Navigator (DAN) assist with EAP requests, a prescriber/delegate can create a unique location for each PSP or DAN.
My location information is not correct/needs updating i.e. address, telephone number, or fax number. How can I maintain my location details in SADIE?
Prescribers/delegates can add a new location, and they can delete a location. All users can update details for an existing location.
For more information and instructions about how to maintain location information in SADIE, see the Quick Reference – How to Manage Locations in SADIE guide.
If I add a new location, or make updates to the details of a location in SADIE, will the information be shared with other Ministry groups to update details for my practices?
Updates to locations in SADIE (including adding new locations and deleting locations) are only used for programs utilizing SADIE for program delivery (i.e the Exceptional Access Program and Ontario Disability Support Program).
Changes to location details made in SADIE do not impact or change a prescriber’s practice information for other Go Secure services, including MC EDT (billing).
I am seeing an inactive location in my ‘Requests in Progress’ list and/or in my ‘Requests With a Ministry Decision’ list.
When a location has been deleted and it is no longer valid for use, it will show as an ‘Inactive’ location in the ‘Requests in Progress’ list. You will be able to see requests not submitted but associated to these locations. Once you open the request a message will display to let you know to select a currently active location. The inactive locations will no longer appear in this list once this is done.
Historical requests appear for an ‘Inactive’ location in the ‘the ‘Requests With a Ministry Decision’ list.
Note: if you believe a location was deleted or inactivated in error please notify EAP by calling 416-327-8109.
What if a patient does not have a health Card Number?
SADIE allows a prescriber/delegate to submit an EAP request for someone who does not yet have a health card number. However, this will delay the request being assessed. An EAP representative will contact you for more information.
When I select a drug, why are some indications bolded?
After selecting a drug, certain indications will be bolded and at the top of the list. The bolded items are the indications most commonly associated with that drug. This may be as a result of the EAP reimbursement criteria associated with that drug and indication pair.
Note that for the best experience, and to access criteria-specific smart forms where available, users should select a value from the Drug and Indication drop-down fields and select it by clicking on the drug and indication name.
Can I only select from the drugs and indications in the lists?
You may search for a drug by entering the brand name, generic (chemical) name or Drug Identification Number (DIN). As you type, any drugs matching your input will show in the list, and you must select the relevant drug.
Note that regardless of whether you enter a brand or a DIN, the generic (chemical) name of the drug is what appears and must be selected.
If the item you are looking for is not in the list, you can type it in without selecting from the drop down.
I changed the drug and/or indication selected and now do not see the reimbursement criteria or questions I was expecting.
To change the drug and indication and see the reimbursement criteria and appropriate questions for your revised selection, you must always click the (x) at the right-hand side of the field to clear the previous information before entering your new drug and indication selection.
Click the ‘x’ and re-enter the drug and indication of choice.
How does SADIE determine if a request is an Initial or a Renewal?
Once you enter the patient’s health card number / ODB eligibility number, confirm the patient, and select a drug and indication, in the background SADIE reviews the patient’s EAP request history (drugs, indications, prior approvals, and durations, etc.) and determines the request type (Initial or Renewal) based on when the most recent approval is scheduled to expire.
How can I provide additional information for a request that has been submitted to EAP?
Prescribers, delegates and designates* can provide additional information for a previously submitted EAP request when EAP staff have made a “Further Information Required” decision.
*Note: Designates can send additional information to prescribers and delegates to submit, for requests associated with locations for which they have been provided access.
For more information and instructions about how to provide additional information in SADIE, see the Quick Reference – How to Provide Additional Information Requested by the EAP guide.
How can I request change(s) to details for an existing approval?
Prescribers, delegates and designates* can request changes (Change of DIN and/or Format, Change of Dose, Change to Approval Period, Other) for an existing approval on file, for a patient, when the same drug and indication is selected. SADIE reviews the patient’s EAP history and if appropriate it provides the option to request to amend details.
*Note: Designates can send amendment requests to prescribers and delegates to submit, for requests associated with locations for which they have been provided access.
For more information and instructions about how to create and submit requests to amend details for an existing approval in SADIE, see Section 9.2 of the SADIE User Guide.
Can I use SADIE to submit an appeal for a request with a negative decision when additional relevant clinical information is available?
Prescribers, delegates and designates* can use SADIE to submit appeals for a previously submitted EAP request when EAP staff have made a “Not approved” decision, and there is new/additional relevant clinical information.
*Note: Designates can send an appeal to prescribers and delegates to submit, for requests associated with locations for which they have been provided access.
For more information and instructions about how to submit an appeal, see the Quick Reference - How to Submit an Appeal in SADIE guide.
Can I submit a request to SADIE through my EMR?
We continue to develop and add new capabilities and functions to SADIE. The prioritization of new features is informed by our users’ input.
We have heard that EMR integration, accessing EAP decision letters in SADIE, viewing previous and pending requests online, and auto-adjudication are key features for SADIE that will allow prescribers to focus on patient care and ensure Ontarians have access to life-saving drugs as quickly as possible. These are on our SADIE roadmap and are being worked on to be released in the future.
I forgot to download a copy of what was submitted.
A copy of the submitted request can be found on the ‘View Submitted’ screen, by selecting ‘View submitted’ in the menu.
Why am I receiving email notifications about SADIE, and why am I receiving them if I did not work on a request?
SADIE users (prescribers, delegates and designates) are receiving email notifications, sent to their GO Secure email accounts, to notify them of actions requiring their attention. If there is a practice location email address for the prescriber that is different from their GO Secure email address, the email notification is sent to both email addresses. Designates receive email notifications if they are currently assigned to the practice location identified on the request, regardless of who worked on or submitted the request.
How can I turn off the email notifications I am receiving, or select who receives them?
The ability to customize which notifications you receive is not currently available. To limit the number of emails that users receive:
- Designates only receive notifications when a prescriber/delegate has submitted a request, and when a Ministry decision has been made for a request, when they are currently assigned to the practice location identified on the request.
- Prescribers/delegates only receive notifications when a designate has sent them a request and it is available in the ‘Ready to Submit’ list, as well as when a Ministry decision has been made for a request.
Who receives email notifications when a request is submitted to the EAP?
Notifications are emailed to designates when a prescriber/delegate has submitted a request. Designates are only notified if they are currently assigned to the practice location identified on the request.
Who receives email notifications when a request is sent to the prescriber to review and submit to the EAP?
Notifications are emailed to prescribers/delegates when a designate has sent a request to a prescriber and the request is available in the “Ready to Submit” list to review and submit to the EAP.
Who receives email notifications when a Ministry decision has been made for a request?
Notifications are emailed to prescribers/delegates when the Ministry has made a decision for a request. Designates are only notified if they are currently assigned to the practice location identified on the request.
I received an email notification that a request is Ready to Submit. Why don't I see the request when I log into SADIE?
If another user has already submitted the request, it will not be found in the ‘Requests Ready to Submit’ list. The submitted request will be found in the ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’ list or the ‘Submitted Requests with Ministry Decision’ list by selecting ‘View Submissions’ in the menu.
What email addresses are used for email notifications for prescribers, delegates, and designates?
SADIE uses the following email addresses to send notifications to users:
- Prescriber – uses the prescriber’s GO Secure email address and the request's practice location email address if different from the GO Secure address
- Delegate – uses the delegate’s GO Secure email address
- Designate – uses the designate’s GO Secure email address
Note: If there is a practice location email address for the prescriber that is different from their GO Secure email address, the email notification is sent to both email addresses. If there are no email addresses available, an email notification cannot be sent.
Delegates and Designates
What is the difference between a delegate and a designate?
Both have been assigned by a prescriber to assist with EAP requests.
A delegate can:
- Submit requests to the EAP on behalf of the prescriber
- View and/or edit any requests in the following lists: 'Requests in Progress', 'Ready to Submit', ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’, ‘Submitted Requests With Ministry Decision’
- Create requests for any practice location
- View and edit any requests in the 'Requests in Progress' and 'Ready to Submit' lists
- Update practice location details, add new practice locations, and delete practice locations
- Create, edit and delete designate and delegate user profiles in SADIE, including their own
A designate can:
- Create requests for any practice location you authorize them to access
- Send requests to the prescriber that are ready for review (i.e. move them to the 'Ready to Submit' list)
- View and/or edit any requests for Practice Locations they have access to in the following lists: 'Requests in Progress', 'Ready to Submit', ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’, ‘Submitted Requests With Ministry Decision’
- Update practice location details
- Delete their own designate account in SADIE
How do I set-up a delegate or designate?
See the SADIE Adding a New User process flow for an overview.
Setting up a SADIE delegate/designate to use SADIE is a two-step process. Both steps must be taken before they can access SADIE on behalf of a prescriber.
The first step, for prescribers only, is to register the delegate/designate to use the GO Secure website, required to access the SADIE service (see Chapter 12 in the SADIE User Guide).
The second step, for delegates that have been set-up (or prescribers) is to add a delegate's/designate’s profile into SADIE (see Chapter 13 in the SADIE User Guide).
I received an automated email from GO Secure stating “My designate has accepted the designation”. It includes directions to set-up permissions. Do I need to set-up permissions in GO Secure?
Prescribers are not required to set-up additional permissions for delegates or designates to use SADIE.
The GO Secure registration process for setting up a designee is complete when a prescriber receives the automated email with the subject “Designate has confirmed access/Désigné a confirmé l'accès”.
The next step is to proceed to SADIE to set-up designate/delegate access if you have not done so already.
Can I set-up an individual at a PSP/DAN as a delegate or designate?
Yes, follow the instructions in the Quick Reference – How to Set-up a Delegate or Designate for SADIE document available at health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/sadie/training.
To ensure the protection of a patient’s personal health information, and to support the prescriber workflow of having a PSP or DAN assist with EAP requests, a prescriber may want to create a unique practice location for each PSP/DAN. By creating PSP/DAN specific practice locations, it will limit what the PSP/DAN designate can access to only those requests supported by their specific PSP/DAN. Delegates can view requests in progress for ALL practice locations.
Instructions on setting-up a practice location for a PSP/DAN are found in Chapter 13 of the ‘SADIE User Guide’.
Is there a limit to the number of prescribers a delegate or designate can work on behalf of?
There is no limit. A delegate or designate uses their one GO Secure account with as many prescribers as necessary. The prescriber must first authorize the delegate or designate in GO Secure and add their profile into SADIE before they can prepare and/or submit requests on their behalf. Similarly, there is no limit to the number of designates and delegates a prescriber can authorize to work on their behalf.
Are delegates and designates able to view details and the status of a request?
A designate can see requests that are ‘in progress’ by any user, including drug, indication and clinical details for practice locations prescribers have given them access to.
A delegate can see requests that are ‘in progress’ by any user, including drug, indication and clinical details for all of a prescriber's practice locations.
Once submitted to the EAP, the requests and responses to requests (Approval/Rejection letters, etc.) can be viewed by selecting ‘View submissions’ in the menu.
What can a delegate do?
Delegates are in essence the prescriber, although the accountability/responsibility of the actions of the delegate designate reside with the prescriber. A SADIE delegate can create requests for any practice location and submit them to the EAP on behalf of the prescriber.
They can view/edit any requests in the following lists: 'Requests in Progress', 'Ready to Submit', ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’, ‘Submitted Requests With Ministry Decision’, and they can update existing practice location details, add a new practice location and delete a practice location. They can also manage other delegate or designate user profiles in the SADIE portal.
What can a designate do?
The accountability/responsibility of the actions of the designate reside with the prescriber. A designate can create requests for any practice location you authorize them to access and they can send requests to the prescriber/delegate that are ready for review (i.e. move them to the 'Ready to Submit' list).
They can view/edit any requests in the 'Requests in Progress', 'Ready to Submit', ‘Submitted Requests Awaiting Ministry Decision’, and ‘Submitted Requests With Ministry Decision’ lists for those practice locations. A designate can also update existing practice location details. A designate can remove their own SADIE user profile.
Can any SADIE user update and complete a request started by another SADIE user?
Designates can update requests associated with any practice location they are assigned to, even if created by another SADIE user, until the request is submitted to the EAP by the prescriber/delegate.
Delegates and prescribers can update requests associated with any practice location, even if created by another SADIE user, until the request is submitted to the EAP.
How can a designate track the status of a request?
All users can track the status of a request, decision, and response letters within SADIE by selecting ‘View submissions’ in the menu. Designates can track details for requests for practice locations they have been assigned to.
How is the outcome of a SADIE request communicated to a designate/delegate?
The outcome (decision and response letter) are available within SADIE by selecting ‘View submissions’ in the menu. Notifications are emailed to prescribers/delegates when the Ministry has made a decision for a request. Designates are only notified if they are currently assigned to the practice location identified on the request.
How will my designate/delegate know that I have set them up?
Currently, prescribers must communicate with new SADIE users that have been set-up, to let them know they can log in. In the future, email notifications will be sent automatically to new users to let them know their SADIE account has been created and that they can log in.
Set-up and Troubleshooting
Do I need special software to use SADIE?
SADIE is accessible through your web browser, and no unique software is required. You can also use SADIE on your smartphone or tablet. Note, if using large font display on a smartphone or tablet, in some cases SADIE message text may not appear properly. In these cases, viewing the screen in Landscape mode versus Portrait will often resolve the issues.
We also recommend you use an up-to-date version of Google Chrome (web browser) for accessing SADIE. Other browsers, except Internet Explorer, are also supported; however, using an older version of a browser may lead to unexpected behaviour and may impact your ability to submit a request.
The system is telling me required information is missing on the ‘Review’ tab.
On the ‘Review’ tab, the system identifies any required responses that were not provided in the clinical information section – ‘Details’ tab. Click on the yellow highlighted warning, and SADIE will take you to the incomplete field.
For clinically relevant questions on the ‘Details’ tab, you can still submit the request even when required values are not provided. However, you will be prompted to provide a rationale for why these questions were not answered.
As a prescriber, I have logged onto GO Secure and selected SADIE from the drop-down and the ‘Access Service’ button, and the system says, “Access Denied.”
As a prescriber, ensure that you have logged into GO Secure using your own GO Secure ‘solo provider’ account versus different GO Secure credentials, such as a Group account. It is possible that your password for your GO Secure account has expired and you may need to reset the password using the link on the GO Secure login screen.
Once logged into GO Secure with your own credentials, you should have the option to select the SADIE service from the drop-down.
If you need assistance regarding this process, please contact Inquiry Services.
- Call: 1-800-262- 6524 (after the language prompts, press 2-3)
- Email: SSContactCentre.MOH@ontario.ca
Where can I obtain my unique identifiers for GO Secure, to access SADIE?
Physicians will find their two unique identifiers in their OHIP Billing Number Confirmation letter. Nurse practitioners do not receive two unique identifiers when registering with the Ministry.
Nurse practitioners and physicians that require the unique identifiers for SADIE access can send an email to ProvideRegistration.MOH@ontario.ca or Fax 613-545-5848 to request their unique identifiers.
Why do I see a message “Access Denied” when I try to log into my GO Secure account?
Ensure that you have not bookmarked the GO Secure page directly. Instead, bookmark the SADIE Homepage Ontario.ca/SADIE and select the SADIE Login button or access directly at: www.ebse.health.gov.on.ca.
As a designate, when I try to log in, why do I get a message that says, I am “unable to access SADIE?”
In order for you to access SADIE, the prescriber you are working on behalf of must add you as a designate under their GO Secure account and add you as a delegate or designate in the SADIE portal.
To resolve set-up issues visit the ‘Help Accessing SADIE’ page.
If you need assistance regarding this process, please contact Inquiry Services.
- Call: 1-800-262- 6524 (after the language prompts, press 2-3)
- Email: SSContactCentre.MOH@ontario.ca
Why do I receive a message that I cannot submit?
Users with certain license conditions will not be able to submit requests through SADIE. The restrictions are:
- Deceased
- Retired
- License suspended
A person logging in under a profile with one of the above license restrictions will be able to login and create a request but will be prevented from submitting. If you believe this is not correct, contact Provider Registration to update your information at ProviderRegistration.MOH@ontario.ca or fax to 613-545-5848.
To submit your EAP request while this is being addressed, please continue to follow the existing fax process using the standard form.
If I have issues using SADIE who do I contact?
Contact Inquiry Services at 1-800-262-6524 (after the language prompts, press 2-3), or via email at SSContactCentre.MOH@ontario.ca.
Ready to get started with SADIE?
Health Care Professionals
