Overview

SADIE (the Special Authorization Digital Information Exchange) is the portal for submitting electronic requests to the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program’s Exceptional Access Program (EAP), enrolments for the Inherited Metabolic Diseases program, and requests for additional Blood Glucose Test Strips for ODB recipients.

SADIE is also being used by other government programs, such as the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

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.

Contact the SADIE Team at SADIE@ontario.ca to request new features, provide feedback, or request additional support. The team is happy to hear from you and considers all input when prioritizing new feature development.

Who can submit EAP requests through 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 ontario.ca/SADIE and clicking on the SADIE Login button.

People who have been assigned as delegates or designates of a prescriber 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 (PDF).

For instructions on how to access SADIE as a prescriber, delegate or designate, please see the “Help Accessing SADIE” section at Ontario.ca/SADIE .

Using SADIE

Various resources have been created to support users. Please visit our Training Aids page to access a step-by-step user guide, training videos, and a set of short guides to get you quickly started.

To access SADIE for EAP, on the “Welcome to SADIE" screen, select the Exceptional Access Program (EAP) link.

Selecting drugs and indications

Prescribers can submit requests for all EAP funded drugs through SADIE. Some drugs and indications will present you with a criteria-specific, smart form.

Searching for a drug in SADIE

Search for a drug by entering the drug’s name, generic (chemical) name or Drug Identification Number (DIN). As you type, any drugs matching your input will show in the list. Select the drug that you want to request.

Note that if you enter a drug’s name or a DIN, the generic (chemical) name of the drug is what appears and must be selected.

If the drug you are looking for is not in the list, you can type it in without selecting from the drop-down list.

Bolded indications in SADIE

Some indications will be bolded after selecting a drug. These 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: For the best experience, and to access criteria-specific smart forms where available, select a value from the Drug and Indication drop-down fields and select it by clicking on the drug and indication name.

Changing the drug and/or indication in SADIE

Changing the drug and/or indication selected will change the reimbursement criteria and questions that display.

To 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.

Determining if a request is an Initial or Renewal

SADIE determines if a request is an Initial or a Renewal once you enter the patient’s health card number / ODB eligibility number, confirm the patient’s information, and select a drug and indication.

In the background SADIE reviews the patient’s EAP request history (drugs, indications, prior approvals, durations, etc.) and determines the request type (Initial or Renewal).

Entering patient information

Patients without an Ontario Health card

SADIE allows a prescriber/delegate to submit an EAP request for someone who does not yet have an Ontario Health card. However, this will delay the request being assessed. An EAP representative will contact you for more information.

Practice locations

Locations in SADIE

A location (or practice location) in SADIE is typically a physical address where a prescriber provides services to patients (for example: a prescriber’s office, clinic or 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.

Maintaining location details in SADIE

Prescribers/delegates can add a new practice location, and they can delete a practice location. All users with access to a location can correct/update details (for example: address, telephone number or fax number) for an existing location.

For more information and instructions about how to maintain practice location information in SADIE, see the Quick Reference — How to Manage Locations in SADIE guide (PDF).

Adding a new location or updates to the details of a location in SADIE and information — sharing with other Ministry groups

Changes to locations in SADIE (including adding new locations and deleting locations) are only used for programs utilizing SADIE for program delivery (for example: the Exceptional Access Program and Ontario Disability Support Program).

Changes to location details made in SADIE are not shared with other Ministry groups and do not impact or change a prescriber’s practice information for other Go Secure services, including MC EDT (billing).

Inactive location in ‘Requests in Progress’ and/or in ‘Requests with a Ministry Decision’

Inactive locations appear in your ‘Requests in Progress’ list and/or in your ‘Requests With a Ministry Decision’ list when a location has been deleted and it is no longer valid for use.

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 ‘Requests With a Ministry Decision’ list.

  • Note: if you believe a location was deleted or inactivated in error please notify EAP by calling 1-866-811-9893 (after the language prompts, press 2)

System validation

Entering dates in SADIE

To enter dates, click anywhere in a field that contains the calendar icon to select a date. Fields requiring a date input can only be entered by opening the calendar control.

The SADIE User Guide (Appendix B) has specific instructions on how to use the calendar controls.

Required information highlighted 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.

Tracking and following up on requests

Confirmation the Request was successfully submitted

Once a Prescriber/Delegate has submitted a request, a Request Submitted message appears confirming successful submission with an option to download/print a copy of the request.

Prescribers will receive EAP decisions, both approvals and rejections, for many drug requests within seconds of submitting the EAP request in SADIE.

Viewing the details for a Request that has been submitted to EAP

For many drug requests SADIE can determine if the request is approved or rejected within seconds. The message “Your request (00123456-01) has been approved” or “Your request (00123456-01) has been reviewed and is not approved for coverage under EAP” will display. Prescribers/Delegates can select the ‘View Ministry’s response’ link to review:

  • the Notice of Approval or Not Approved letter
  • the Submission Details
  • related Correspondence Exchanged with the Ministry

All users can see requests for practice locations they have access to by selecting ‘View Submitted’ in the menu. This screen will show requests submitted to the EAP through any method (for example: SADIE, Telephone Request Service, 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.

Finding saved Requests 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. You are encouraged to download/print the pdf of the requests when you submit them.

Requesting 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.

Providing further 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 they receive a “Further Information Required” notification.

*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.

Appealing a negative decision

Prescribers, delegates and designates* can use SADIE to submit appeals for a previously submitted EAP request when they receive a “Not approved” notification, 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 Request an Appeal for a Negative Decision guide.

Updating and completing 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.

Email notifications

SADIE will send email notifications to users when there is an activity requiring their attention

  • prescribers, delegates, and designates will receive an email notification when a Ministry decision is available
  • prescribers and delegates will receive an email notification when a designate has sent a request, additional information, or an appeal to a prescriber and the request is available in the “Ready to Submit” list to review and submit to the EAP
  • designates will receive an email notification when a prescriber/delegate has submitted a request, additional information, or an appeal
  • note: designates are only notified if they are currently assigned to the practice location identified on the request

Receiving email notifications from SADIE for Requests you did not work on

SADIE users (prescribers, delegates and designates) receive 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.

Turning off email notifications or selecting who receives them

The ability to turn off the email notifications or customize which notifications you or others 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.

Email that a Request is ready to submit however not seeing the Request in SADIE

If you receive an email notification that a request is Ready to Submit and you don't see the request when you log into SADIE, it is likely that another user has already submitted the request, and 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.

Email addresses used for email notifications for prescribers, delegates and designates

The following email addresses are used to send email notifications to prescribers, delegates, and designates:

  • prescriber — the prescriber’s GO Secure email address and the request's practice location email address if different from the GO Secure address
  • delegate — the delegate’s GO Secure email address
  • designate — the designate’s GO Secure email address

Note: If there are no email addresses available, an email notification cannot be sent.

Delegates and designates

Difference between a delegate and a designate

A prescriber can assign a delegate(s) and/or a designate(s) to assist with EAP requests.

Delegates 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
  • 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

Designates can:

  • create requests for any practice location that a prescriber or delegate authorizes them to access
  • send requests to the prescriber that are ready for review (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

There is no limit to the number of prescribers a delegate or designate can work on behalf of. 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.

SADIE accounts for PSP/DAN employees

You can set-up an individual at a Patient Support Program (PSP) / Drug Access Navigator (DAN) as delegate or designate.

Follow the instructions in the Quick Reference — How to Set-up a Delegate or Designate for SADIE document available on the ministry’s “SADIE Training Aids” webpage.

To ensure the protection of a patient’s personal health information, and to support the prescriber workflow of having a PSP or DANassist 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.

Setting-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)

GO Secure permissions for designates

If you receive an automated email from GO Secure stating “My designate has accepted the designation”, with directions to set up permissions, you may skip this step as it is not necessary for setting up SADIE delegates or designates.

The GO Secure registration process for setting up a designate or delegate 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.

Designate/delegate access to SADIE

Prescribers must notify new users that have been set up in SADIE.

SADIE Request responses and decisions communications to designates/delegates

Decisions are communicated to all users with access to a practice location.

Decision and response letters 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.

Troubleshooting

Software required to access SADIE

SADIE is accessible through your web browser, and no unique software is required. You can also use SADIE on your smartphone or tablet. If using large font display on a smartphone or tablet, in some cases the SADIE message text may not appear properly. Viewing the screen in Landscape mode will often resolve the issue.

It is recommended 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.

Submitting a Request to SADIE through EMR

We continue to develop and add new capabilities and functions to SADIE. The prioritization of new features is informed by our users’ input.

Requests for integration to access EAP decision letters in SADIE, and to view previous and pending requests through your EMR, 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 for a future release.

Obtaining your 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 ProviderRegistration.MOH@ontario.ca or Fax 613-545-5848 to request unique identifiers.

GO Secure “Access Denied” system message when prescriber chooses SADIE in the drop down and the ‘Access Service’ button is selected

As a prescriber, if you have logged onto GO Secure and selected SADIE from the drop-down and the ‘Access Service’ button, and the system says, “Access Denied”, 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.

Designates receiving an “Access Denied” message in Go Secure

If you see an “Access Denied” message when trying to log into your GO Secure account, ensure that you have not bookmarked the GO Secure page directly. Bookmark the SADIE Homepage Ontario.ca/SADIE and select the SADIE Login button.

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 please see the “Help Accessing SADIE” section at ontario.ca/SADIE.

If you need assistance regarding this process, please contact Inquiry Services.

Receiving a cannot submit message

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.

Faxing EAP requests

You can still submit EAP requests by fax.

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.

SADIE in French

Due to its technical nature and limited targeted audience, this application has been exempted from translation under the French Language Services Act as per O. Reg. 671/92. Prescribers can fax EAP requests in French to 416-327-0981.

Help using SADIE

Contact Inquiry Services at 1-800-262-6524 (after the language prompts, press 2-3), or via email at SSContactCentre.MOH@ontario.ca.