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 […]
Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada has launched an online network of health resources that’s free for all Canadians. The online platform, called Lumino Health, provides information about more than 150,000 health-care providers, including dentists, physiotherapists, chiropractors, vision-care providers and psychologists. In addition, it offers more than six million ratings about these providers from Sun Life plan […]
Maximizing retirement income is the most important investment and retirement issue among Canadians aged 55 or older, according to a survey by BMO Wealth Management. A quarter (25 per cent) of survey respondents said maximizing income was one of the most important issues in retirement, followed by whether their long-term care needs will affect their finances (23 […]
Nova Scotia first responders with post-traumatic stress disorder will have an easier time accessing workers’ compensation benefits beginning Oct. 26. The province has eliminated a requirement that those in emergency response occupations must prove that a PTSD diagnosis is work-related. The updated Workers’ Compensation Act regulations, first unveiled last year, will clarify who is eligible […]
Doctors with opposing views on whether medical marijuana should be prescribed for various conditions agree on one thing: their profession is ill-prepared to deal with patients asking for a drug that lacks adequate clinical research. Two doctors with contrasting viewpoints on the issue will participate in a debate on Tuesday — the day before recreational cannabis […]
Sun Life’s group benefits plan members will now get a second opinion on a very serious issue. Teladoc Health Inc. has made Best Doctors’ oncology insight service available in Canada for Sun Life members through the extended health-care plan. The service allows patients with a cancer diagnosis to obtain a medical review from a world-renowned […]
Investors must understand how disruption will impact their exposure to healthcare
Controlling costs on both the employer and employee side of benefits plans is a top concern for human resources professionals, according to a new survey by Hub International Ltd. The survey, which polled nearly 200 benefits decision-makers at Canadian organizations, found 36 per cent of respondents said employee costs are a concern and 32 per cent said employer […]
Medavie Blue Cross and Medaca Health Group are introducing a virtual cognitive behavioural therapy pilot project to provide plan members easier access to mental-health care. Through a computer, smartphone or tablet, plan members diagnosed with anxiety or depression can log into the service’s digital platform to communicate with their therapist via video. The treatment will […]
Any decision reached on pharmacare reform in Canada should guarantee the viability of current health benefits plans, according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association in its submission to the advisory council on the implementation of national pharmacare. Jeopardizing current benefits plans could lead to a delay in access to new medicines and could potentially […]