On Dec. 5, the 2018 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in Toronto highlighted the leading issues for plan sponsors to consider in the year ahead, including medical cannabis, pharmacogenetics and drug plan sustainability.
Here are some of the highlights of the sessions:
A look at the benefits of patient support programs for plan members, sponsors
Patient support programs provide a number of benefits for all private plan stakeholders — and ongoing digitization will likely allow even greater connectivity and personalization for patients, physicians and payers in the near future, according to those with experience developing and launching these solutions in Canada.
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Employer and private payer considerations around medical cannabis coverage
As plan sponsors and private payers begin integrating medical cannabis offerings into benefits plans, it’s crucial they account for the dynamic nature of the industry and remain adaptable to expected changes around distribution and product innovation.
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Opportunities around drug coverage for traditional ‘lifestyle’ issues
Although certain drug categories have always been considered optional in benefits plans, this may be an opportune time to look at modernizing coverage in a number of areas, according to Suzanne Nagy, national drug consulting leader at Mercer Canada.
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Panel addresses pros and cons of pharmacogenetic testing
When used by the right person in the ideal situation, pharmacogenetic testing can produce significant results for plan members. But the tool isn’t appropriate for everyone and should never be looked at in isolation.
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How CADA’s plan design changes affected drug plan sustainability
Even for a complex benefits plan, it’s possible to make changes that have a notable impact on drug sustainability, according to one plan sponsor.
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