high-cost drugs – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Fri, 22 Nov 2024 22:16:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 How would a national drug pooling program impact employer-sponsored benefits plans? https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/how-would-a-national-drug-pooling-program-impact-employer-sponsored-benefits-plans/ Tue, 19 Nov 2024 14:00:16 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=162897 In light of the federal government developing a national pharmacare program, it’s important it considers the implementation of a national drug pooling program for private payers, says one expert. “If the government is going to invest in a universal drug program, it needs to have two main objectives,” said Edward Sabat, partner at The Consulting […]

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]]> How benefits plan sponsors, insurers are managing newer — and effective — GLP-1 medications https://www.benefitscanada.com/archives_/benefits-canada-archive/how-benefits-plan-sponsors-insurers-are-managing-newer-and-effective-glp-1-medications/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 13:55:00 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=162339 With lyrics adapted to the tune of ‘Magic’ by Scottish pop group Pilot, the melody of ‘Oh, Oh, Oh, Ozempic’ is splashed across U.S. televisions in a snappy advertising campaign. The commercial push is likely unnecessary. Ozempic, one of the brand names of a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist medication used to treat type 2 diabetes, […]

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]]> Sounding Board: How employers can mitigate cost of drugs for rare diseases https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/sounding-board-how-employers-can-mitigate-cost-of-drugs-for-rare-diseases/ Mon, 08 Jul 2024 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=157855 The World Health Organization defines a rare disease as having a prevalence of 65 or less per 100,000 individuals. It recognizes some 5,500 rare diseases, the majority being of genetic origin and often life-threatening. Medical research has yielded significant drug development for the treatment of rare diseases, increasing life expectancy and improving quality of life. However, […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-89/ Fri, 05 Jul 2024 13:00:08 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=157820 An article outlining the implications of a single-payer universal pharmacare system was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investmnet stories of the past week: 1. Sounding Board: What plan sponsors should know about pharmacare 2. Meet the 2024 Workplace Benefits Awards judges 3. Mental-health claims by Canadians up […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-86/ Fri, 14 Jun 2024 13:00:22 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=156970 An article detailing a stark increase in the use of obesity medications among Canadian employer-sponsored benefits plan members was the most-read article on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Claims for obesity drugs increased 42% in 2023, 92% since 2020: report 2. How […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-84/ Fri, 31 May 2024 13:00:20 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=156306 An article on legal challenges filed against the federal government’s hybrid work mandate for public service employees was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Unions representing federal public service workers file legal challenges against hybrid work mandate 2. Expert […]

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]]> Coverage for high-cost, specialty drugs missing from rollout of feds’ pharmacare plan: experts https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/coverage-for-high-cost-specialty-drugs-missing-from-rollout-of-feds-pharmacare-plan-experts/ Wed, 29 May 2024 13:00:53 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=155589 While the concept behind the federal government’s universal pharmacare plan is well intentioned, the program would make a larger impact for employers by focusing on high-cost and specialty drugs, says Pam Martin, vice-president and senior consultant at Baynes & White Inc. In theory, the way that the government is rolling out the program in small […]

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]]> A closer look at growing asthma drug spend https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/a-closer-look-at-growing-asthma-drug-spend/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:57:40 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150552 Many Canadians living with asthma are experiencing poor control over their symptoms, impacting the workplace, said Anjila Arora, director of pharmaceutical benefits at Sun Life Financial Inc., during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. Between 53 and 90 per cent of asthmatic Canadians meet at least one criteria for poor control […]

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]]> Plan sponsors, private payers can work together to help employees with rare diseases access novel treatments https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/employees-with-rare-diseases-need-help-from-plan-sponsors-private-payers-to-access-novel-treatments-patient-advocate/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:53:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150657 It’s important for private payers and employers to be nimble and innovative to support plan members seeking access to novel drugs and treatments by addressing common hurdles within their own drug plans, said John Adams, chair of the board of directors for patient advocacy group Best Medicines Coalition, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face […]

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]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-68/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:00:44 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150279 A story on mental-health themes and challenges for 2024 was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Expert panel: Employers taking preventative, holistic approach to employee mental health in 2024 2. AI holds uncapped potential for pension plan sponsors’ administration, communications: […]

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