Atopic dermatitis affects all areas of patients’ lives, including their work and productivity, said Lyn Guenther, professor of dermatology at Western University, during Benefits Canada’s 2021 Chronic Disease at Work conference in late February. The chronic skin condition, characterized by dry and itchy skin, is growing in prevalence in Canada. About 3.5 per cent of […]
Benefits plans tend to cover care for common chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and chronic obstructive lung disease. But the one they often don’t support is obesity, said Arya Sharma, scientific director at Obesity Canada and clinical co-chair of Alberta Health Services’ obesity program, during Benefits Canada’s 2021 Chronic Disease at Work conference in […]
When People Corp. started looking into reducing its claims numbers related to chronic disease, it decided to tackle what Judith Plotkin, vice-president of health and wellness solutions, called “the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse:” diabetes, obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure. The four conditions are comorbidities not only with each other but other afflictions […]
Public companies that invest in their people have three times’ the return on their stock price of those that don’t, making a clear case for investing in plan members’ health needs and disability prevention strategies, said Tyler Amell, adjunct faculty at Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences, during Benefits Canada’s 2021 Chronic Disease at […]
On Feb. 23-24, Benefits Canada hosted the annual Chronic Disease at Work conference, this year in a virtual format. The event explored what chronic disease looks like in 2021, including sessions on topics such as addiction, cancer, diabetes and obesity. Here’s what you missed: Assessing the mental-health offerings for plan members with moderate to severe […]
The Empire Life Insurance Co. is adding opioid management solution to its pay-direct drug benefit plans. Alongside the coronavirus pandemic, another public-health issue has worsened during these tumultuous times. Between July and September 2020 there were 1,705 apparent opioid toxicity deaths, according to the Government of Canada. This stat represents the highest quarterly count since […]
Staples Canada Inc. is the latest Canadian employer to provide employees with paid leave to receive a coronavirus vaccination. The company will provide up to three hours of paid leave as well as access to educational resources and information sessions with a medical professional about vaccines, according to a press release. Read: Canada Goose offering […]
With Canadian biologic drug sales growing at a rate of 13 per cent annually over the last 10 years, plan sponsors are looking for ways to manage the related costs — and the introduction of biosimilars may help. At a recent Pfizer-sponsored webinar hosted by Benefits Canada, “Evidence to Policy — Biosimilar Transitioning in Canada,” two […]
The City of Toronto is planning to bring the coronavirus vaccine to high-risk workplaces in an effort to stop the spread of the disease, the city’s mayor said Monday as pressure mounted on the province to vaccinate essential workers. Mayor John Tory says the city is currently developing the details of the plan, which will […]
Job-protected leave has been written into British Columbia’s Employment Standards Act to give workers time off to get their coronavirus vaccinations. Labour Minister Harry Bains says the safeguard will ensure that no one will lose their job if they need time away to get vaccinated. The changes allow part-time and full-time workers to take as much […]