biologics – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Fri, 26 Apr 2024 20:02:31 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 What employers need to know about pulmonary arterial hypertension https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/what-employers-need-to-know-about-pulmonary-arterial-hypertension/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:57:13 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=152726 Employees with pulmonary arterial hypertension can experience significant impacts to their quality of life and workplace experience, said John Granton, a respirologist with the University Health Network in Toronto, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Chronic Disease at Work conference in February. Pulmonary arterial hypertension is a very rare condition, affecting less than 10,000 Canadians. It’s […]

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]]> How plan sponsors can improve employee health outcomes while optimizing drug plan spend https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-plan-sponsors-can-improve-health-outcomes-while-optimizing-their-drug-plan-spend/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:56:14 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150572 With chronic conditions growing in prevalence among plan members, plan sponsors have their work cut out for them in designing benefits plans that provide adequate health support and employee satisfaction while also being cost effective, said Marie-Hélène Dugal, manager of pharmacy benefit strategy for Medavie Blue Cross, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug […]

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]]> How plan sponsors can use biosimilars to support employee health, reduce drug costs https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-plan-sponsors-can-use-biosimilars-to-support-employee-health-reduce-drug-costs/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:54:04 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150607 Despite the safety and efficacy of biosimilars — and the potential cost savings they offer — uptake among private payers has been low historically and is only starting to gain steam, said Neda Nasseri, pharmacist and private payer product director at Desjardins Insurance, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in December. The insurer first developed […]

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]]> Survey finds 60% of plan sponsors reporting increased health benefits costs https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/survey-finds-60-of-plan-sponsors-reporting-increased-health-benefits-costs/ Mon, 25 Sep 2023 13:00:12 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=143682 Three-fifths (60 per cent) of benefits plan sponsors say the costs of their health benefits plan increased in the past three years, according to the 2023 Benefits Canada Healthcare Survey. It found this percentage decreased from 66 per cent when the question was last asked in 2016 and was unchanged from 2015 (60 per cent). […]

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]]> Public sector benefits plan changes include $75k for gender affirmation coverage https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/public-sector-benefits-plan-changes-include-75k-for-gender-affirmation-coverage/ Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:00:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=141385 Changes to the Public Service Health Care Plan, which took effect on July 1, include $75,000 for certain gender affirming procedures not covered by provincial or territorial health-care programs. Other new benefits include: $300 per year each for a registered dietician, occupational therapist and lactation consultant; $200 per year for batteries for hearing aids; $600 per […]

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]]> Specialty drugs accounting for smaller portion of total eligible claims amount: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/specialty-drugs-accounting-for-smaller-portion-of-total-eligible-claims-amount-report/ Wed, 14 Jun 2023 19:00:17 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=139815 Specialty drugs are accounting for a slightly smaller portion of the total eligible amount for all drug claims, declining from 33.6 per cent in 2021 to 33.1 per cent in 2022, according to Telus Health’s annual drug trends report. The report, based on claims data from more than 4.6 million plan members in 2022, found the […]

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]]> 2023 Drug Plan Trends Report: How the repercussions of the pandemic are trickling down to drug plans https://www.benefitscanada.com/archives_/benefits-canada-archive/2023-drug-plan-trends-report-how-the-repercussions-of-the-pandemic-are-trickling-down-to-drug-plans/ Fri, 17 Mar 2023 12:56:14 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=135012 As the coronavirus pandemic enters its fourth year, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the health crisis has taken its toll on employee mental health. Scotiabank saw a notable rise in claims for mental-health drugs in 2022, says Ayman Alvi, the bank’s vice-president of global pension and benefits, noting the increased use of these medications aligns with […]

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]]> Ontario biosimilars policy could cut drug costs for plan sponsors: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/ontario-biosimilars-policy-could-cut-drug-costs-for-plan-sponsors-expert/ Thu, 16 Feb 2023 14:00:15 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=134030 Changes to Ontario’s policy on the use of biosimilars in its public drug plan could result in savings for private benefits plans if they choose to follow the provincial model, says Theresa Tran, a principal in group benefits at Eckler Ltd. Starting March 31, Ontario Drug Benefit recipients who are on an originator biologic will […]

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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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]]> Webinar coverage: Innovative new treatments can lead to better outcomes, reduce side-effects in IBD https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-wellness/webinar-coverage-innovative-new-treatments-can-lead-to-better-outcomes-reduce-side-effects-in-ibd/ Tue, 29 Nov 2022 14:00:57 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=130203 Canada has one of the highest incidence rates of inflammatory bowel disease in the world. “We don’t know why, but Canada is one of the hotspots,” said Dr Mark Silverberg, gastroenterologist at Mount Sinai Hospital and the University of Toronto, during a webinar hosted by Benefits Canada and sponsored by Takeda Canada in November. IBD […]

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