To enhance care for Indigenous dermatology patients, Canadian physicians are being encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, said Dr. Megan MacGillivray during a presentation at the 2024 Indigenous Skin Spectrum Summit. The NIHB is a federal initiative providing healthcare benefits to Indigenous peoples in Canada.
During the talk, Dr. MacGillivray emphasized the importance of understanding the NIHB program's coverage and accessibility. The NIHB offers supplementary benefits not covered by provincial, territorial, or private insurance plans.
Dr. MacGillivray founded the FullCircleDerm Virtual Acne Clinic in Barrie, Ont., and runs the skin cancer biopsy clinic and an Indigenous health-focused clinic at the Royal Victoria Regional Hospital in Barrie.
The NIHB covers medications, medical transportation, dental care, medical equipment and supplies, vision care, and mental health counselling.
Dr. MacGillivray said the list of agents for covered skin conditions is fairly comprehensive. It includes a range of moisturizers, topical antifungals, anti-inflammatory agents, acne medications, antineoplastics, disease-modifying anti-rheumatics, biologics, and small-molecule immune inhibitors.
She said physicians can search the NIHB drug benefit list online (accessible here) to see if a patient's medication is covered.
Notably, in Ontario, patients on the NIHB have easier access to dupilumab as they do not have to fail one of the disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs—they only have to fail a topical steroid and topical calcineurin inhibitor and not have access to phototherapy, said Dr. MacGillivray.
Dr. MacGillivray said she wants to see NIHB cover products such as ivermectin, clascoterone, trifarotene, roflumilast, and clobetasol propionate shampoo (Clobex.)
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