public health care – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Thu, 21 Nov 2024 16:43:00 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 Innovative Medicines Canada calling on feds to clarify impact of pharmacare on private drug plans https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/innovative-medicines-canada-calling-on-feds-to-clarify-impact-of-pharmacare-on-private-drug-plans/ Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:00:07 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=162136 Innovative Medicines Canada is calling on the federal government to introduce amendments to Bill C-64 that clarify the impact on all aspects of Canadians’ drug coverage. In a press release, the association urged the feds to ensure its new pharmacare program doesn’t disrupt existing coverage for the 27 million Canadians who are insured under a […]

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]]> Sounding Board: What plan sponsors should know about pharmacare https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/sounding-board-what-plan-sponsors-should-know-about-pharmacare/ Thu, 27 Jun 2024 13:00:06 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=157451 Plan sponsors worried about the expense and sustainability of their drug plan might initially embrace a pharmacare plan, hoping to shift drug costs to a new program funded by provincial and federal governments. However, this may not be the solution it seems. A single-payer universal pharmacare system might limit medication access for individuals with employer-sponsored benefits […]

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]]> Comparing workplace mental-health supports around the world https://www.benefitscanada.com/archives_/benefits-canada-archive/comparing-workplace-mental-health-supports-around-the-world/ Fri, 09 Feb 2024 13:58:20 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=151480 Although mental health is approached differently in workplaces around the globe, most multinational employers want to ensure a continuity of care and maintain a similar experience for all employees, while respecting local cultural and legal considerations. For Scotiabank, these considerations include focusing on what types of support are needed, what the employee experience is going […]

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]]> CLHIA focusing on improving pharmacare, rare disease drug coverage in 2024 https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/clhia-focusing-on-improving-pharmacare-rare-disease-drug-coverage-in-2024/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 14:00:29 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=151208 In the year ahead, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association will continue its advocacy efforts to ensure the federal government’s proposed pharmacare plan extends coverage for those who lack benefits without disrupting workplace benefits that millions of working Canadians rely on, says Stephen Frank, the association’s president and chief executive officer. The right approach to […]

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]]> Tax credit could ensure national dental-care plan doesn’t displace employer-sponsored coverage: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/tax-credit-could-ensure-national-dental-care-plan-doesnt-displace-employer-sponsored-coverage-expert/ Wed, 17 Jan 2024 14:00:40 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150492 With the new Canadian Dental Care Plan rolling out, it’s critical that it doesn’t displace existing employer-sponsored dental coverage, says Stephen Frank, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. He believes a tax credit would be an optimal solution that would go a long way towards encouraging employers not […]

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]]> Gene, cell therapies raising questions of drug cost responsibilities: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/gene-cell-therapies-raising-questions-of-drug-cost-responsibilities-expert/ Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:00:30 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=141260 The growth of gene and cell therapies are raising significant questions among private payers about who bears the responsibility for the costs of these treatments, says Tim Clarke, president at TC Health Consulting Inc. “One issue is whether this is going to be paid for by public health or if it’s an employer health issue. […]

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]]> Communication, education key to smooth transition to biosimilars: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/communication-education-key-to-smooth-transition-to-biosimilars-expert/ Tue, 25 Apr 2023 13:00:29 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=136956 With Yukon implementing a transitioning policy on April 3 to expand the use of biosimilar medicines in its public drug plan, it’s important for benefits plan sponsors that create a similar policy for their workplace plans to be clear in their communication and education with employees. “It’s never easy to switch a medication, especially when […]

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]]> Striking the right balance between member access, plan sustainability https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/striking-the-right-balance-between-member-access-plan-sustainability/ Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:58:11 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=132525 Plan sponsors face challenges balancing benefits plan sustainability while also ensuring their plan members have access to the care they need, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, manager of pharmacy benefit strategy at Medavie Blue Cross, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2022 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in Toronto in December. Referring to Medavie’s claims data, […]

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]]> Four drug plan management strategies to help bend the cost curve https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-drug-plan-management-strategies-can-bend-the-cost-curve/ Mon, 23 Jan 2023 12:55:23 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=132535 With the cost of drug claims continuing to rise in 2021, benefits plan sponsors can enable certain drug programs to curb costs, keeping their plans sustainable and offering the benefits that members highly value, said Lavina Viegas, director of pharmacy operations at Telus Health, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2022 Face to Face Drug […]

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]]> 2022 Mental Health Summit: The role of digital solutions in accessing mental-health supports https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/2022-mental-health-summit-the-role-of-digital-solutions-in-accessing-mental-health-supports/ Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:57:22 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=130513 Canada has done a good job at reducing the stigma around discussing and seeking help for mental-health challenges, but two-thirds of Canadians who are struggling still don’t seek help. That’s a likely symptom of the country’s “fractured and fragmented” health-care system, said Joe Blomeley, executive vice-president and head of health services and enterprise growth at […]

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