Rethinking risk management and the future of private drug insurance

With cost of private drug plan claims rising about 5.5 per cent each year, pooling is one solution that could be beneficial for benefits plan sponsors.

This session was made possible by Innovative Medicines Canada.

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Striking the right balance between member access, plan sustainability

Plan sponsors face challenges balancing benefits plan sustainability while also ensuring their plan members have access to the care they need, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, manager of pharmacy benefit strategy at Medavie Blue Cross.

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Taking a holistic approach to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is commonly misunderstood and can reduce the ability of a person to function while impacting their quality of life, said Anjila Arora, director of pharmaceutical benefits at Sun Life Financial Inc.

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A look at the evolving role of pharmacists in drug plan management

As pharmacists’ scope of practice evolves across the country, their expanded role in drug plan management can improve plan member health and positively impact plan sponsors’ bottom lines.

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Four drug plan management strategies to help bend the cost curve

With the cost of drug claims continuing to rise in 2021, benefits plan sponsors can enable certain drug programs to curb costs, keeping their plans sustainable and offering the benefits that members highly value, said Lavina Viegas, director of pharmacy operations at Telus Health.

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Innovative new drugs improve health outcomes, productivity and plan sponsors’ bottom lines

While a transplant can be life-altering for a patient as a permanent cure for their underlying condition, it can also profoundly affect their immune system, according to Dr. Matthew Cheng, assistant professor in transplant infectious diseases and medical mycology at McGill University.

This session was made possible by Bristol Myers Squibb, Novo Nordisk Canada and Takeda Canada.

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What problems need to be solved when it comes to rare diseases?

About a million Canadians are impacted by rare diseases, which disproportionately affect younger patients — 70 per cent start in childhood and, sadly, half of these children won’t reach adulthood, said Suzanne Lepage, a private health plan strategist.

This session was made possible by Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

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An update on vaccine coverage in private drug plans

While vaccine coverage varies across provincial drug plans, several million Canadians who are members of private drug plans don’t have coverage at all, according to Chris Bonnett (pictured left), founder and principal consultant of H3 Consulting, during a panel session supported by GSK, Merck & Co. Inc. and Pfizer Canada Inc.

This session was made possible by GSK, Merck and Pfizer Canada.

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From patient to plan sponsor, how health benefits can turn a life around

Living with a rare chronic disease while also managing an employer-sponsored benefits plan provides Chris MacLeod with a unique perspective.

This session was made possible by Vertex.

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