Pharmacy Agreements & Services Framework
Pharmacy Agreements Updates
The Alberta Pharmacists’ Association (RxA) works closely with the Alberta government to advocate for Alberta pharmacists and ensure the profession’s interests are represented. Use the information and resources below to stay informed about the Multi-Year Pharmacy Framework, related implementation changes, and other policy changes affecting pharmacy practice and reimbursement in Alberta.
NEW Agreement – Multi-Year Pharmacy Framework
On June 16, 2026, the Government of Alberta announced a new Multi-Year Pharmacy Framework intended to provide funding and policy stability for pharmacies through March 31, 2029. The framework includes a number of implementation changes, most of which take effect October 1, 2026. The Pharmacist Cap took effect earlier, on June 26, 2026.
Announcement and Communications
- Government Media Release – View original | Downloadable PDF
- RxA Special Capsule Message – June 16, 2026 – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – New Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding – View original | Downloadable PDF
- NEW Ministerial Order 630/2026 – Compensation for Pharmacy Services, Primary and Preventative Health Services – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 29, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
Implementation Changes
Pharmacist Cap
Effective date: June 26, 2026
A cap on pharmacist claims took effect June 26, 2026. Refer to Alberta Blue Cross guidance for details on the cap and how it is applied.
Resources
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Pharmacist Cap – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Pharmacist Cap – FAQ – View original | Downloadable PDF
Care Plan PIN Update
Effective date: October 1, 2026
ICD-9 coding requirements for CACP and SMMA follow-up claims -Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
Resources
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-year Pharmacy Funding Framework update – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Comprehensive Annual Care Plan (CACP)/Standard Medication Management Assessment (SMMA) Product Identification Number (PIN) List – Downloadable PDF
- New Comprehensive Annual Care Plan (CACP) and Standard Medication Management Assessment (SMMA) Product Identification Numbers (PINs) – FAQ – View original | Downloadable PDF
- ICD-9 Resources
- RxA Capsule Message – August 27, 2026 – View original | Downloadable PDF
Maintenance Medication Policy
Effective date: October 1, 2026
Extension for Authorization Form requirements
For both:
- The Frequent Dispensing Authorization Form for the Maintenance Medication Dispensing Policy, and
- The Daily Dispensing Authorization Form for the Daily Dispensing Policy
pharmacies will have until October 31, 2026, to complete and retain the applicable authorization form where required. All other aspects of the Daily Dispensing Policy and the Maintenance Medication Policy will continue to take effect on October1, 2026. - Alberta Blue Cross audit requirements related to these forms will be enforced beginning November 1, 2026.
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Confirmation of continuing care facilities and inclusion of Seniors Lodges – Assisted Living Navigation Portal
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
Resources
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-year Pharmacy Funding Framework update – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Maintenance Medication Program Drug Listing – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Maintenance Medications Frequent Dispensing Authorization Form – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Maintenance Medication Dispensing Policy FAQ – View original | Downloadable PDF
- RxA Capsule Message – September 17, 2026 – View original | Downloadable PDF
Daily Dispensing Policy
Effective date: October 1, 2026
Extension for Authorization Form requirements
For both:
- The Frequent Dispensing Authorization Form for the Maintenance Medication Dispensing Policy, and
- The Daily Dispensing Authorization Form for the Daily Dispensing Policy
pharmacies will have until October 31, 2026, to complete and retain the applicable authorization form where required. All other aspects of the Daily Dispensing Policy and the Maintenance Medication Policy will continue to take effect on October 1, 2026. - Alberta Blue Cross audit requirements related to these forms will be enforced beginning November 1, 2026.
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
Resources
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-year Pharmacy Funding Framework update – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Daily Dispensing Authorization Form – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Daily Dispensing Policy FAQ – View original
Dispensing Fees, OTC and Nutritional Product Pricing Change
Effective date: October 1, 2026
The reimbursement changes for over-the-counter (OTC) products and nutritional products outlined in Benefact 1335, originally scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026, have been postponed due to technical issues. Until further notice, pharmacy providers should continue to submit claims for OTC and nutritional products using the
current allowable upcharges and dispensing fee rules that were in place prior to October 1, 2026. An updated implementation date and additional claiming information will be communicated through a future benefact.
Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
Resources
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-year Pharmacy Funding Framework update – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Alberta Blue Cross Notice of Amendment and Appendices – Downloadable PDF
- RxA Capsule Message – September 10, 2026 – View original | Downloadable PDF
Limits on Topical Compounds
Effective date: October 1, 2026
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-year Pharmacy Funding Framework update – Downloadable PDF
Bill 11 – Payor Order Changes
Effective date: October 1, 2026
Resources
- Bill 11 2025 – Health Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Bill 11 Implementation – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Media Release – Modernizing Alberta’s Health Care System – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Bill 11 Reference Guide and Q&A document – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Understanding Alberta’s Bill 11 and its impact on health benefit plans | Alberta Blue Cross® Benefit plan updates under Bill 11 – View original
- NIHB considerations for Bill 11 and FAQ – Alberta Blue Cross Benefact – Multi-Year Pharmacy Funding Framework Update (September 28, 2026) – View original | Downloadable PDF
- Bill 11 FAQ
Past Agreements
Past Agreements – Archived
2026 – Agreement Extension 6 months
Ministerial Order 624/2026 – Compensation for Pharmacy Services, Primary and Preventative Health Services (Pharmacist Services Cap Addition) – View original | Downloadable PDF
Ministerial Order 612/2026 (Apr 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2026) – Compensation for Pharmacy Services, Primary and Preventative Health Services. View Ministerial Order.
2025 – Agreement Extension 1-year
Ministerial Order 608/2025 (Apr 1, 2025 – Mar 31, 2026) – Compensation for Pharmacy Services. View Ministerial Order.
2024 Care Plan and Followup Reduction
Ministerial Order 615/2024 (Nov 1, 2024- Mar 31, 2025) – Decreases Fee for CACP to $70 and Caps Followups at 4. View Ministerial Order.
2022 Agreement Extension and Amendment
REPEALED – Ministerial Order 606/2022 (Apr 1, 2022 – Mar 31, 2025) – Extends the terms for the Pharmacy Compensation Framework supporting Pharmacist Services. View Ministerial Order.
2021 Agreement Extension and Amendment
Ministerial Order 610/2021 (Apr 1, 2021 – March 31, 2022) – Extends the $2 increase to the Assessment for the Administration of a Publicly Funded Vaccine for an additional year, keeping the fee to $15. View Ministerial Order.
Control Drugs Class Exemption Pharmacists (June 23, 2021)
2020 Publicly Funded Vaccine Fee Increase
In recognition for the increased demand that COVID-19 has placed on pharmacists providing immunization services, Alberta Health has agreed to a temporary increase in compensation for publicly funded vaccinations, including influenza, pneumococcal, and dTap, retroactive to October 1, 2020. Pharmacists in Alberta will receive a $2 increase for publicly funded vaccines that will be in place effective October 1, 2020, until March 31, 2021, bringing the fee up from $13 per publicly funded vaccination to $15.
2019 Agreement, Amendments & FAQ
Ministerial Order 627/2019 (Jan 1, 2020 – March 31, 2022) – Eligibility rules for the compensation of Pharmacy Services. Including clarity on Insulin for Alteration, and Prescribing to Manage Ongoing Therapy. Produced by Alberta Health. View Ministerial Order.
Announcement Pharmacy Agreement Amendment
Pharmacy Agreement Amendment FAQ (March 1, 2019)
2018 Agreement FAQ
RxA’s Alberta Pharmacy Agreement: FAQ Document (May 11, 2018)
Services
RxA provides members with a series of practice tool templates designed to support the delivery of pharmacy services. You are encouraged to customize these templates to fit the needs of your practice.
Templates
These templates can be modified to fit the needs of your practice. Your pharmacy system may already meet some or all of the service expectations for CACP or SMMA.
FDP Documentation Template (MS Word – Editable version)
Introduction to the CACP/SMMA Templates
CACP / SMMA templates (MS Word – Editable version)
CACP / SMMA templates (PDF – Printable version)
Framingham Risk Condition Plan and Intervention Form (PDF version)
Framingham Risk Condition Plan and Intervention Form (Word version)
Injection patient consent form
Alberta Blue Cross Benefacts
Frequently Referenced
Alberta Blue Cross Pharmacy Guide Manual (Updated Section – Quantitative Limits)
Archived
Temporary Increase to Publicly Funded Vaccine Fee – Benefact 908 – October 2020
Asymptomatic COVID19 Testing Paused – Benefact 907 – October 2020
Pharmacy-based Asymptomatic COVID19 Testing Program – Benefact 883 – July 2020
Changes to Group 1 and Group 66 for Critical Supply Product List – Benefact 880 – July 2020
Pharmacy-based Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Pilot Program – Benefact 872 – June 2020
Pharmacy Compliance Benefact Number 5 – Removal of wet signature CACP/SMMA – April 2020
Updates on COVID19 Pandemic, COVID19 Pharmacy Services Fee – Benefact Number 847 – March 2020
Frequently Referenced
Alberta Blue Cross Pharmacy Guide Manual (Updated Section – Quantitative Limits)