Health spend, and particularly drug spend, has long been an issue for both insurance companies and plan sponsors. In 1967, health spending was approximately 7%…
The Canadian operation of Rio Tinto, a global exploration and mining company, has a presence in the Northwest Territories, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Ontario, but…
While the announcements two weeks ago that private sector generic drug prices are being lowered in Ontario, welcome news to any private plan sponsor, there…
A focus on containing—or even cutting—benefits plan costs is nothing new for employers, especially given the increases in drug costs and other benefits in recent…
Ontario’s assistant deputy minister of health is the subject of death threats, reports the Toronto Star. The first salvos in the battle between the Ontario…
Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews says the government’s push to lower generic drug prices and eliminate subsidies paid to pharmacists will result in either lower…
The war of words between Ontario’s pharmacy industry and the provincial government over changes to generic drug prices continued Thursday as vice-chair of Ontario Pharmacists’…
While the pharmacy industry will not be sending flowers to Queen’s Park any time soon, employers and benefit plan sponsors may be in for substantial…
Courtesy of Canadian Healthcare Network. After months of waiting, wondering and worrying, Ontario’s new wave of drug system reforms were announced Wednesday–and they cut much…
Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews unveiled sweeping new regulations on Wednesday aimed at lowering costs for generic drugs and pharmacy services, but the pharmacy industry…
Gaps in prescription drug coverage are placing millions of Canadians at risk of financial hardship. In challenging economic times, this inequity is even more glaring.…
The key to any successful benefits plan is a program that satisfies the plan objectives while responding to the (increasingly diverse) needs/wants of employees in…
Pharmaceutical companies that provide deep discounts for drugs to the Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) appear to be “in a panic” after the provincial government released…
The Harper government’s healthcare priorities didn’t need much recalibrating, if the new federal budget is any indication. Identified as Canada’s Economic Action Plan Year 2:…
More than half of all Canadian workers are employed by small and mid-size enterprises with less than 500 employees. Doug Bruce, director of research with…
March can be a long, tough month that seems to drag on and on—especially during a true Canadian winter, when it’s not uncommon to have…
Are oral and/or injectable drugs included in your organization’s drug plan? If you’re a plan sponsor and aren’t sure, you are not alone. According to…
Shoppers Drug Mart created a stir on February 11 when they announced their fourth quarter and full year results by confirming the rumour that they…
Although David showed early symptoms in his late teens, he was only diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) once he was well established in his career.…
At the best of times, a plan sponsor has a plateful of benefits challenges, such as keeping a handle on changing employee demographics, budget constraints,…
Born in Scotland, Holloway learned his craft as a consumer goods marketer with Colgate – Palmolive in the Americas and in Europe. Following a term…
1. Influenza Preparedness Guide The H1N1 pandemic has the business community on edge. Will the frightening scenario of empty offices and unserviced clients come to…
The significant price differences that exist between the public and private sector in many regions across the country is well documented. One other key difference…
With H1N1 upon us, pandemic preparedness in the workplace will be of key interest to employers and employees and the duties and legal rights if…
It affects many organizations, but is seldom viewed as a major issue—and rarely mentioned in the context of pensions and benefits. The reality is, however,…