drug plan design – 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 How employers can prioritize women’s health in benefits plans https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-employers-can-prioritize-womens-health-in-benefits-plans/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 12:00:11 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=152763 Amid a wave of frank and open discussions about women’s health, more plan sponsors are beginning to review their benefits and human resources policies with an eye to providing better support. It’s something that a group of health-care experts, speaking during a panel discussion at Benefits Canada’s 2024 Chronic Disease at Work conference in February, […]

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]]> Plan members with Alzheimer’s still have plenty to offer the workplace: patient advocate https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/plan-members-with-alzheimers-still-have-plenty-to-offer-the-workplace-patient-advocate/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:58:47 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=152657 After her husband Mike Kessler was diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease in 2021, Karen Kessler admitted she would hover around him. The Windsor, Ont. couple implemented many strategies in place to manage Mike’s diagnosis, and Karen remembers believing he would need plenty of help. “I was doing everything, I was carrying the load, and quite […]

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]]> How plan sponsors can support employees with inflammatory bowel disease https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-plan-sponsors-can-support-employees-with-inflammatory-bowel-disease/ Mon, 11 Mar 2024 11:56:02 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=152663 With the increased availability of treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, patients can achieve longer periods of remission, said Vipul Jairath, a gastroenterologist at the London Health Sciences Centre and professor of medicine at Western University, during Benefits Canada’s 2024 Chronic Disease at Work conference in February. IBD involves an underlying pathological process that creates inflammation […]

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]]> High-cost drug claims lead to 20-times greater cost per claim for small plan sponsors https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/high-cost-drug-claims-lead-to-20-times-greater-cost-per-claim-for-small-plan-sponsors/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 13:00:24 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150385 A recent survey by Innovative Medicines Canada found there are growing listing delays among Canada’s private drug plans, said Joe Farago, the organization’s executive director of private payers and investment, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in December. The survey noted private payer review times can take […]

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]]> How preferred pharmacy networks can lower drug plan costs, boost access to care https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/how-preferred-pharmacy-networks-can-lower-drug-plan-costs-boost-access-to-care/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:58:55 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150509 Pharmacists are now uniquely positioned to support Canadians at a time when the public health-care system is stretched thin, creating significant barriers for people looking to access care, said Dr. Jennifer Poh, senior director of drug plan solutions at Health Solutions by Shoppers, during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum in […]

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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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]]> Plan sponsors, private payers can work together to help employees with rare diseases access novel treatments https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/employees-with-rare-diseases-need-help-from-plan-sponsors-private-payers-to-access-novel-treatments-patient-advocate/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:53:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150657 It’s important for private payers and employers to be nimble and innovative to support plan members seeking access to novel drugs and treatments by addressing common hurdles within their own drug plans, said John Adams, chair of the board of directors for patient advocacy group Best Medicines Coalition, during a session at Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face […]

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]]> Highest-cost drugs reimbursed by Canadian public plans in 2021/22 were rare disease treatments: report https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/highest-cost-drugs-reimbursed-by-canadian-public-plans-in-2021-22-were-rare-disease-treatments-report/ Tue, 09 Jan 2024 14:00:15 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=149971 The 10 highest-cost drugs reimbursed by public drug plans in Canada in the 2021/22 fiscal year were all rare disease treatments with annual treatment costs of more than $250,000, according to a new report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board. It found the increased use of high-cost drugs continued to be the main factor […]

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]]> Top 10 benefits stories of 2023 https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-10-benefits-stories-of-2023/ Tue, 19 Dec 2023 14:00:35 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=148992 A story on how plan sponsors and insurers are considering covering weight-loss drugs as part of a broader push towards more inclusive benefits was the most-read benefits story on BenefitsCanada.com this year. Here are the 10 most popular benefits news stories of the year: 1. How plan sponsors, insurers are considering coverage of weight-loss drugs amid rising […]

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