Employers are divided when it comes to drugs. On the one hand, 90% of participants in Benefits Canada’s 2015 online survey strongly or somewhat agree that it would be worth it to pay for a high-cost drug if it meant their employee continued to be healthy and productive. On the other hand, they want financial […]
What employer doesn’t want more engaged employees and cost savings on their benefit plans? At the Face-to-Face Drug Plan Management Conference in Toronto on Dec. 2, John Law, global director, benefits, and director, total rewards, Canada and Latin Americas for Pitney Bowes Inc., told his company’s experience with revamping its benefits plan. “This is primarily […]
Are plan sponsors aware of the benefits plan challenges they face? Yes and no, according to Benefits Canada’s 2015 online survey of 204 senior benefit decision-makers. The survey revealed that an alarming number of sponsors are unaware of the state of their plans. Sixty-six per cent of those surveyed didn’t know what underwriting arrangement they […]
The time to act is now: that was the collective feeling at the 2015 Face-to-Face Drug Plan Management conference on Dec. 2 in Toronto. As plan sponsors grapple with an influx of costly new drugs, employee non-compliance issues and a lack of case management, panellists at the conference brainstormed for the best ways to help […]
Panellists at Benefits Canada’s Face-to-Face Drug Plan Management conference earlier this week called for rational, effective cost-cutting measures to ensure benefits plan sustainability. There was a distinct sense of urgency in the packed conference room in Toronto. “Is the pain big enough that we’re going to see some meaningful [plan] design change?” asked one attendee. […]
For every dollar invested in pharmacist services, many more will be saved because plan members with chronic conditions will be healthier—and may even be able to drop medications they no longer need. Such was the case put forward by presenters at the 2015 Pharmacy Solutions in Drug Plan Management conference in October in Toronto. While […]
Pharmacists Mike Boivin, John Papastergiou and Hitesh Pandya kicked things off with a ground-level view of what happens at the dispensary counter with plan members. In one case, a patient had been using samples for an antidepressant from his physician. When he learned his plan did not cover the drug, he paid for the medication […]
On-site wellness clinics can be an effective entry point for pharmacy services. Based on its data from such programs in the workplace, MHCSI Managed Health Care Services Inc. has found that about a third of plan members are at risk of chronic disease and a third are at very high risk, noted Leanne MacFarlane, MHCSI’s […]
Pharmacist Mike Cavanagh presented on behalf of the Pharmacy Health Insurance Steering Coalition (PHISC), a joint initiative by the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association, the Neighbourhood Pharmacies Association of Canada and the Canadian Pharmacists Association. PHISC is putting the finishing touches on a package that explains the pharmacy services that could be covered by […]
Expensive biologics are driving up drug claims costs…but how can employers choose between saving a life and saving the drug plan for everyone?