Appendix E – Timeline of Events
- 2008-2010 – Benefit Grid review is conducted and grids updated
- July 21, 2010 – SDAT is introduced as single point of contact for district, regional and Head Office staff to help with complex issues when business processes or policies are not clear
- 2011 – VAC Program Management and Service Delivery branches at Head Office are amalgamated
- 2011-12 – Benefit Code to Medical Pension Code mapping process conducted and linkages updated
- April 2012 – Budget 2012 focuses on reductions in departmental spending (Deficit Reduction Action Plan), impacting resources dollars
- June 2013 – new Health Canada Medical Marijuana Regulations enacted
- 2013-14 – Treatment Benefits Program Management Unit reduced by 4 FTEs
- 2014-2015 - In order to gain efficiencies, work previously conducted by VAC Treatment Authorizations Centres is included in the third-party contract award for the Federal Health Claims Processing System. Work is transferred to the third-party health claims processor in a phased approach (by POC/line of work) between October 2014 and April 2015.
- 2013-16 – The Medical Pension Code to Benefit Code Tool is created to simplify the eligibility/approval process for authorizations by the third-party health claims processor. The tool is implemented in phases by POC between November 2013 and November 2016.
- 2014-15 – Canadian Medical Marijuana regulations are updated by Health Canada, with changes to licensed provider requirements, price regulations, growing personal plants, and access to types of marijuana.
- February 16, 2015 – all calls from providers requesting authorizations, except POC 10, to the toll free Treatment Authorization Center number will be responded to by the third-party health claims processor.
- 2015-16 – OAG Drug Audit work is conducted (scope timeframe April 2013 to March 2015)
- April 2016 – OAG Drug Audit report is published with findings and recommendations linked to Drug Formulary Review Committee decision-framework, documentation of evidence supporting decisions, drug utilization monitoring and cost-effective strategies.
- November 2016 – new VAC Cannabis for Medical Purposes Policy is established.