pointed out a cascade effect: one insurer published its health trend factor, and, subsequently, several other insurers published the same trend number.
Sun Life Financial has signed a strategic alliance with Reformulary Group Incorporated to develop a new drug plan for employers.
The Halifax Professional Firefighters Benefits Trust has been actively managing its plan since going to an administrative services-only program and moving its drug plan to a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) five years ago.
While many organizations view their drug benefit spend simply as a necessary cost of doing business—and approach plan management from a cost-containment perspective—some are recognizing that their drug plan is an investment in the overall health and well-being of their employees.
In July 2011, Medavie Blue Cross implemented a therapeutic substitution pilot program with a small group of pharmacies in Atlantic Canada. According to George Somers, director of professional and provider affairs at Medavie Blue Cross, the pilot was facilitated by new legislation and a subsequent interest by pharmacists and Medavie Blue Cross to explore new partnerships.
Many biologic drugs have a high price tag but they also provide employees a much healthier life and, in some cases, an easier return to work. So how does an employer balance the cost and benefit of biologics on its drug plan?
Besides the compelling love story between its two attractive stars, the movie Love and Other Drugs presents a rather enlightening glimpse into the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical sales community. It turns out that this complex relationship is no different than any other in the world of sales, and doctors rely on sales reps for information, training and support.
From a distance, it may look as though the drug plan benefits space has matured greatly over the past 10 years. However, as you get closer and examine what is happening today—and looking ahead to 2012—it can be frustrating to see how little the needle has moved in some areas.
Benefits management services provider Express Scripts Canada has announced the introduction of a new business model, which, it says, will enable companies to better control the costs of their drug plans.
Originally from our sister publication, CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca. The number of new prescription medications covered by provincial and territorial insurance plans dropped substantially after a national review body began assessing the cost-effectiveness of drugs in 2003, a study has found. Researchers also discovered that newly approved drugs were listed for coverage more quickly in several of the […]