drug reform – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Fri, 01 Nov 2024 19:12:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Coverage of the 2021 Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/coverage-of-the-2021-face-to-face-in-drug-plan-management-forum/ Mon, 24 Jan 2022 13:00:26 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=114439 On Dec. 15, the industry’s most popular drug benefits conference returned in a virtual format, highlighting the trends and opportunities for Canadian benefits plan sponsors to consider. Here’s what you missed: Using proactive drug plan design to ensure future sustainability Ensuring plan sponsors get value for money from their drug plans Patient support program insights […]

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]]> Using proactive drug plan design to ensure future sustainability https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/using-proactive-drug-plan-design-to-ensure-future-sustainability/ Mon, 24 Jan 2022 12:59:00 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=114441 In 2020, Canada Life Assurance Co. saw a decrease in the number of benefits plan members making a drug claim, though the costs of those claims were higher, according to Barb Martinez, the insurer’s national practice leader in drug solutions, speaking during a session at Benefits Canada‘s Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum […]

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]]> Liberals once again delay PMPRB changes to lower price of medicines in Canada https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/benefits-law/liberals-once-again-delay-pmprb-changes-to-lower-price-of-medicines-in-canada/ Mon, 03 Jan 2022 14:00:42 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=113965 Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has put a six-month pause on new regulations designed to lower the cost of patented medicines in Canada. Health Canada first announced in 2019 that the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board would change how it sets a price cap on medicines in Canada in an effort to lower excessively expensive […]

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]]> CDIPC estimates 34% rise in high-cost drug burden for Canadians since 2016 https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/cdipc-estimates-34-rise-in-high-cost-drug-burden-for-canadians-since-2016/ Wed, 22 Dec 2021 14:00:52 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=114197 The Canadian Drug Insurance Pooling Corp.’s high-cost drug framework provided coverage to almost 28,000 Canadians and their families where drug costs exceeded $10,000 annually in 2020. According to its results, the CDIPC estimated that its member insurance companies reimbursed claims associated with 54 new high-cost drugs including those for rare diseases. As well, based on past experience, […]

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]]> How is the pandemic, policy issues impacting group benefits and pharmaceutical industries? https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/how-is-the-pandemic-policy-issues-impacting-group-benefits-and-pharmaceutical-industries/ Mon, 22 Nov 2021 14:00:25 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=112065 The proposed amendments to the patented medicines regulations by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board could have a big impact on both the group insurance and pharmaceutical industry. “The CLHIA is very supportive of PMPRB adjustments that may be coming,” said Joan Weir, director of health and disability policy at the Canadian Life and Health […]

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]]> NDP promising universal pharmacare, Conservatives looking to double EI sickness benefits https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/ndp-promising-universal-pharmacare-conservatives-looking-to-double-ei-sickness-benefits/ Mon, 30 Aug 2021 19:00:11 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=106481 If elected, New Democratic Party Leader Jagmeet Singh is pledging to begin working with provinces immediately to deliver a single-payer, public pharmacare program for all Canadians. The NDP say millions of people can’t afford to take the medications they need and must skip doses, cut their pills in half or even go without them. “We […]

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]]> Possible national pharmacare program has pros, cons for employers: experts https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/possible-national-pharmacare-program-has-pros-cons-for-employers-experts/ Wed, 18 Aug 2021 13:00:51 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=105876 Discussion around implementing a national universal pharmacare strategy is growing louder ahead of next month’s federal election. In its 2019 budget, the federal government said it would work with partners to move forward on a national pharmacare program, including the creation of a new national drug agency and formulary, as well as a national strategy for […]

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]]> Head to head: Should private drug plans require biosimilar non-medical switching? https://www.benefitscanada.com/archives_/benefits-canada-archive/head-to-head-should-private-drug-plans-require-biosimilar-non-medical-switching/ Fri, 13 Aug 2021 12:59:32 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=105123 While one side highlights how plan sponsors can contribute to biosimilar sustainability, the other touts the benefits to patients and the health-care system. Durhane Wong-Rieger, president and chief executive officer, Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes The Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes recently published a scorecard rating the biosimilar policy frameworks of European countries across seven […]

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]]> CLHIA calling for increased access to VPLAs, prescription drugs https://www.benefitscanada.com/pensions/governance-law/clhia-calling-for-increased-access-to-vplas-prescription-drugs/ Mon, 09 Aug 2021 19:00:32 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=105272 The Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association is calling on the federal government to permit standalone variable payment life annuities to pool participants from all registered retirement plans. In its 2022 federal budget submission, the CLHIA said VPLAs, as enacted, will only be available to members of very large defined contribution pension plans, excluding Canadians […]

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]]> Expert panel: A look at retiree benefits and the current health-care system https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/expert-panel-a-look-at-retiree-benefits-and-the-current-health-care-system/ Tue, 20 Jul 2021 13:00:31 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=104175 Many employees may be dreaming of a carefree retirement following many years in the trenches — but they’ll likely have to keep dreaming if they don’t have first-rate, post-retirement health and dental insurance coverage. Many employers provide supplemental health insurance (drug, dental, extended health and out-of-country medical) as part of comprehensive packages of employee benefits, […]

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