Well beyond childhood vaccines and the annual flu shot, the role of vaccines is evolving, from saving lives to improving life-long health and well-being. There is a shift underway with the development of vaccines to prevent or treat chronic conditions in addition to preventing infectious diseases. “Vaccines offer an opportunity to reduce disease as well as health-care […]
The landscape in the pharmaceutical world is forever changing, as drug costs continue to rise and drug plan sustainability is at risk, said Alberta Blue Cross’ Krystal Wynnyk at the 2018 Calgary Drug Trends Summit on Oct. 25. “We’re stuck trying to find a balance between plan sponsor costs and drug sustainability, and balancing that […]
Private drug plans are hugely valuable, for employees and employers alike, and they need to continue to be a part of the national drug landscape, even with a pharmacare program, said one speaker at the 2018 Calgary Drug Trends Summit. At the same time, drug costs are creating sustainability issues, said Sarah Lussier Hoskyn, senior analyst of […]
Two-thirds (67 per cent) of group insurance brokers said their client base would decrease if employer-paid benefits became taxable income, according to a survey by the Canadian Group Insurance Brokers and Digital Journal Group. In February 2017, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in Parliament his government wasn’t planning to tax employee health and dental plans. However, the […]
On Sept. 25 in Mississauga, Ont., the 2018 Pharmacy Solutions in Drug Plan Management Forum presented five sessions looking at the value that pharmacy brings to private drug plans, benefits plan member experience and health outcomes. Here are some of the highlights of the sessions: Leveraging pharmacy services to improve care, drive value As pharmacists’ […]
As pharmacists’ scope of practice continues to evolve to meet changing health-care needs, plan sponsors need to leverage these services to improve care and drive value, according to one expert. “I truly think pharmacy services have great value. But there is a huge misunderstanding or even lack of awareness of what pharmacists can provide and […]
While type 2 diabetes is generally considered to be a chronic, progressive condition, a recent clinical trial showed that with pharmacist-led therapeutic nutritional intervention, reversal is a realistic goal. As Sean McKelvey, chief executive officer of the Institute for Personalized Therapeutic Nutrition, told attendees at the 2018 Pharmacy Solutions in Drug Plan Management Forum in […]
Many effective strategies exist when it comes to managing specialty drug costs, but a coordinated approach that takes the financial, clinical and pharmacy elements into account is key to achieving a balance between access and spending, according to Telus Health’s Cory Cowan. Cowan, the organization’s director of professional services, told attendees at the 2018 Pharmacy […]
Although the landscape is set to change dramatically with the legalization of marijuana for recreational use, plan sponsors and members can expect a distinct system for medical cannabis to continue, said Aurora Cannabis Inc.’s Jonathan Zaid. Speaking at the Pharmacy Solutions in Drug Plan Management forum in Mississauga, Ont. on Sept. 25, Zaid, the organization’s director, advocacy and […]
A new program that aims to move community pharmacies away from a transactional relationship with payors to a shared accountability for patient health outcomes is underway, beginning with measuring performance. Moving toward a value-based system is key because Canada currently spends more per capita on health care, on average, than any other country in the […]