The Empire Life Insurance Company has introduced a service for those with pay-direct insurance plans to help employers better manage the cost of their drug benefits.
Powered by Express Scripts Canada, Actively Managed Drug Solutions services are designed for employees who take maintenance and/or specialty drugs. The services provide personalized education and coaching, as well as dispensing of medication and treatment facilitation.
“New higher cost drugs are just one of the factors putting pressure on drug benefits, and [employers] need solutions to keep their plans sustainable and competitive,” said Steve Pong, senior vice-president, Group Solutions at Empire Life. “[The service] helps employees stay on track with their treatment, and helps [employers] keep their drug benefits more sustainable, so plans can afford to cover specialty drugs when they are needed.”
Read: Pharmacy management strategies reduce costs by up to 24%
“Overall, one in every three dollars is spent without improving patient health outcomes,” said Mike Biskey, president of Express Scripts Canada. “Doctors don’t always understand drug costs or employees’ drug benefits. Often, employees do not know what their drug plan encompasses.
“We bring all this information together in one place and work with employees and their doctors to help them understand their medication choices and costs. This gives them information they can use to perhaps choose a less expensive medication that will work just as well. We help employees understand what their choices are and, of course, we are here to help them make the best choice. It’s all about providing a better drug benefit service for employees at a lower cost to the employer and the employee.”
The full suite of Actively Managed Drug Solutions services is offered in all provinces except Quebec.
Read: Bite-sized solutions to get drug plan costs under control