universal pharmacare – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Thu, 21 Nov 2024 14:17:26 +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: 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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]]> 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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]]> Pharmacare bill passes in House of Commons, heads to Senate https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/pharmacare-bill-passes-in-house-of-commons-heads-to-senate/ Tue, 04 Jun 2024 19:00:47 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=156527 The federal government’s pharmacare bill is headed to the Senate after passing third reading in the House of Commons. The bill was the result of careful and lengthy negotiations between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party as a key element of their political pact to prevent an early election. Read: Liberals table bill paving way […]

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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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]]> Feds seeking to boost domestic investments by Canadian institutional investors: budget https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/cir-news-news/feds-seeking-to-boost-domestic-investments-by-canadian-institutional-investors-budget/ Wed, 17 Apr 2024 13:00:53 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=154356 In its 2024 budget on Tuesday, the federal government announced a new working group dedicated to encouraging increased domestic investments by Canadian institutional investors. Former Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz is being tasked to lead an organization that will identify priority investment opportunities in the country for the more than $3 trillion held by […]

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]]> Liberals table bill paving way for future pharmacare program a day before deadline https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/liberals-table-bill-paving-way-for-future-pharmacare-program-a-day-before-deadline/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 20:00:25 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=152559 Health Minister Mark Holland tabled a long-awaited bill Thursday meant to pave the way for national pharmacare and preserve a deal that secures the New Democratic Party’s support for the government in the House of Commons. The bill includes a program to cover birth control as well as diabetes drugs and supplies for anyone with […]

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