Manitoba’s Nov. 1 formulary changes add Dexcom G7 15-day sensors and new drug listings

Manitoba Health’s Bulletin 152 is scheduled to take effect on November 1, 2026, with amendments to the provincial Drug Benefits and Drug Interchangeability Formularies. The bulletin contains new product listings, changes to Exception Drug Status (EDS) criteria and revisions to interchangeable-product pricing. For pharmacy teams, the main practical task is to check the exact benefit part, criteria and effective-date file before quoting coverage or submitting a claim.

A new Dexcom sensor listing has specific eligibility limits

Among the changes, the bulletin adds the Dexcom G7 15 Day Sensor to Part 2, with a quantity limit of 24 sensors per benefit year. The criteria shown are for patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who are using both basal and bolus insulin or an insulin pump. Part 2 listings are not unrestricted benefits: the formulary’s terms apply, and a product appearing in the bulletin does not mean every patient with diabetes qualifies.

The bulletin also updates EDS criteria for Maviret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir), including a granule formulation and treatment eligibility for children aged three years and older who weigh at least 12 kilograms, subject to the listed clinical requirements. The bulletin specifies specialist prescribing and laboratory confirmation, among other conditions. Pharmacists should consult the full criteria rather than relying on a short summary when helping a prescriber or patient navigate an application.

Other additions and changes

Bulletin 152 includes new Part 1 entries such as generic rivaroxaban, buspirone, risperidone, captopril oral solution, enalapril and extended-release methylphenidate products. Part 1 and Part 2 describe different benefit pathways; neither label should be inferred from a drug’s brand name or from the fact that a new generic has entered the list. The bulletin also sets out EDS additions and indication or criteria changes for several specialty medicines, along with new interchangeable products and price changes.

These are benefit-list changes, not new Health Canada approvals. Manitoba’s official formulary page explains that Part 1 products are eligible under the program’s prescribed circumstances, while Part 2 products are covered only when their stated terms are met. When a drug is not listed in either part, an individual EDS request may be considered under the applicable process.

What pharmacy teams should do before November 1

• Review Bulletin 152 and the revised formulary files before processing claims dated on or after November 1; confirm the effective version rather than relying on a cached drug lookup.
• For Dexcom G7 15 Day Sensor claims, verify the patient’s treatment regimen and annual quantity against the Part 2 criteria and the current adjudication instructions.
• For Maviret requests, confirm age, weight, diagnosis, laboratory documentation, prescriber specialty and treatment-history criteria before advising that coverage is available.
• Check whether an item is Part 1, Part 2 or EDS, and explain that formulary listing does not by itself guarantee payment for a particular patient or dispensing.
• If an online listing and the bulletin appear inconsistent during the transition, consult Manitoba Health’s current formulary page or the relevant drug-program contact before making a coverage commitment.

Manitoba’s update combines routine generic listings with changes that may affect access to diabetes technology and specialist therapies. Clear counseling depends on keeping the date, benefit pathway and patient-specific criteria together: the bulletin is a starting point, while the current formulary and claim rules determine how an individual prescription is handled.

Primary sources

• Bulletin #152: Formulary Amendments — Manitoba Health, effective Nov. 1, 2026.
• Manitoba Drug Benefits and Interchangeability Formulary — Manitoba Health, current formulary and EDS information.