Advocacy on the federal government’s pharmacare program will continue to be a core focus for the Benefits Alliance in 2025, says Carolyne Eagan, the association’s president. As each province is determining how or whether they’ll accept the government-sponsored program, she says the association plans to continue its grassroots campaign to engage with Canadian plan sponsors […]
Benefits Canada’s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum has been running for nearly 20 years and is the industry’s most popular drug benefits conference. On Dec. 2 at the Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto, attendees experienced a full day of educational sessions presented by industry experts, with insights into fresh drug plan designs […]
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder, affecting up to nine per cent of children and five per cent of adults, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, manager of pharmacy benefit strategy at Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. Diagnosis rates have increased among women and become more common […]
Women face unique health challenges throughout their lives — across most age groups, women experience higher rates of chronic diseases compared to men, said Neda Nasseri, pharmacist and product director of drug benefits at Desjardins Insurance, during a session supported by Pfizer Canada at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. Historically, […]
Canada’s workforce increasingly reflects the unique health challenges faced by its female population. Between 2018 and 2023, women represented a little more than half of the total claimants and spend in Express Scripts Canada’s drug claims data, according to Farah Belayadi, the organization’s senior manager of clinical services and health technology database, during Benefits Canada’s […]
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Canada, predominantly affecting women, with more than 29,000 diagnoses in 2023. It’s complexity is underscored by more than 50 unique types, making each diagnosis distinct and challenging to treat, according to Kimberly Carson, chief executive officer of Breast Cancer Canada, during a session supported by AstraZeneca Canada […]
Advances in medical science and innovations in drug development necessitate updated drug plan strategies, according to Frédéric Leblanc (pictured far right), strategic leader of drug programs, group benefits and retirement solutions at iA Financial Group. During a panel discussion supported by EMD Serono Inc., GSK, iA Financial Group, Merck & Co. Inc., Novo Nordisk Canada Inc. […]
Private drug plans play a pivotal role in ensuring faster and broader access to medications for 27 million Canadians, said Joe Farago, executive director of private payers and investment at Innovative Medicines Canada, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. The federal government’s new pharmacare plan is designed as a universal, […]
One of the keys to managed care is to reflect on past experiences, understand lessons learned and consider their implications for the future, said Bobby Currie, director of drug evaluation at Manulife, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. While traditional tools like caps, deductibles and co-insurance that employers […]
Bell Let’s Talk Day provides an opportunity to promote internal mental-health resources to employees and establish more open communication, says Jessica Reid, the company’s director of workplace practices, disability, mental health and well-being. For its internal campaign this year, Bell planned a series of activities spanning from Jan. 6 to 22 to help drive awareness […]