Rethinking specialty drugs
Time for a paradigm shift
Over the past 15 years, specialty drugs have revolutionized health care, delivering life-changing and life-saving treatments to those who need them. However, the rising cost and growing use of these treatments have become a financial concern for payors; and because of this, innovative approaches to balancing access with plan sustainability are now required.
Pharmacogenetic testing in Canada – what plan sponsors need to know
This installment of Medication Management provides readers with practical guidance on what to look for when selecting a pharmacogenetic testing provider.
Knowledge is power
Around one in three Canadians live with Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar (blood diabetes or pre-diabetes*; this is expected to glucose), is common for all people living with increase 30 per cent by 2031.i
The new way to manage biosimilars
The current biosimilar landscape in Canada has been a patchwork of coverage approaches among the two provinces that have adopted policies around their use: Alberta and B.C. “The provinces are moving independently of one another at different points in time for different sets of molecules,” says Jason Kennedy, director, Health Business Consulting with TELUS Health in Toronto.
Chronically Simple: Empowering plan members to better manage their healthcare to improve health outcomes
Chronically Simple is a digital tool designed to keep medical information at your fingertips, whether you’re a patient living with a chronic illness or disability, or a caregiver.
Insurer Case Management and Patient Support Program Services in Canada
Patient support programs sponsored by manufacturers and insurer case management programs both aim to improve patient health outcomes, but the services they provide generally differ.
Managed formularies Seeking more value from drug plans
As more high-cost specialty drugs enter the market and as chronic disease drives the utilization of non-specialty drugs, plan sponsors and benefits providers look increasingly to cost containment options to protect drug plan sustainability.
Nurse-led Health Case Management
The continued growth of new high-cost specialty medications for the treatment of complex chronic diseases has challenged insurers to balance group plan members’ needs for effective treatment of their chronic diseases with long-term benefit plan sustainability, and the cost management needs of plan sponsors.
Brave new world Is your drug plan keeping pace?
As scientists successfully fill in the map of human genetics, pharmaceutical researchers are charting whole new territories of drugs, such as biologics, that can achieve unprecedented clinical results.
Make the most of every drug dollar you spend
Without question, the drug benefit landscape has seen momentous changes in the past decade – changes that are only going to accelerate in the near- and mid-future. Biologics, targeted specialty medications, drugs for rare conditions, and advancements in community-based oncology medications – these are some of the realities plan sponsors face today.
Future of Patient Support Programs in Canada
Pharmaceutical manufacturer funded Patient Support Programs (PSPs) focus on providing services for patients with complex conditions who require treatment with specialty medications. As the Canadian landscape changes, PSPs are evolving to better meet the needs of patients.
Redefining the Patient Support Program Model
AbbVie Care is designed to cater to the needs of program members and HCPs throughout the treatment pathway. Their support complements the care patients receive from both their healthcare team and other healthcare management programs that may be available.
Is your drug benefit plan costing more than it should?
Plan sponsors are expressing concerns about the rising costs of drug plans, however according to TELUS Health, very few are actually taking advantage of existing programs available to help them reduce their drug plan costs.
Specialty drug management solutions
High-cost specialty medications comprise the fastest growing pharmaceutical sector today and are projected to continue to be a significant cost driver in the future. While plan sponsors are looking for solutions to help manage costs in order to protect the sustainability of their plans, traditional cost containment options such as co-insurance, plan maximums or coverage restrictions may leave plan members unable to afford the treatment they require.
Easy Access to Better Health
Non-adherence to prescription medication can be a significant contributor to the cost of benefit plans and may result in reduced productivity and high incidence of absence and disability.
