To protect the sustainability of private drug plans, non-traditional alliances need to become the norm.
That’s according to participants at the second annual Canadian Leadership Council on Drug Plan Partnerships meeting in Toronto. Representatives for patient groups, physicians, benefits consultants and pharmaceutical manufacturers sat down with insurers and pharmacy benefits managers in early June.
Access to medications and cost management were the “push” and “pull” of discussions, which often centred around the growing utilization of higher-cost specialty pharmaceuticals. While challenges came to the surface, the diverse group of stakeholders agreed that healthier, more productive patients or employees are the unifying common ground.
Other topics discussed included standardized prior authorization forms, data sharing and patient navigation tools, for distribution at the point of care in physicians’ offices.
Look for complete coverage in the September issue of Benefits Canada.