high-cost drugs – Benefits Canada.com https://www.benefitscanada.com Canada's most influential pension and benefits publication for decision-makers Thu, 02 May 2024 20:20:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.8 A closer look at growing asthma drug spend https://www.benefitscanada.com/events/conference-coverage/a-closer-look-at-growing-asthma-drug-spend/ Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:57:40 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150552 Many Canadians living with asthma are experiencing poor control over their symptoms, impacting the workplace, said Anjila Arora, director of pharmaceutical benefits at Sun Life Financial Inc., during Benefits Canada’s 2023 Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum. Between 53 and 90 per cent of asthmatic Canadians meet at least one criteria for poor control […]

The post A closer look at growing asthma drug spend appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 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 […]

The post Plan sponsors, private payers can work together to help employees with rare diseases access novel treatments appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week https://www.benefitscanada.com/news/bencan/top-5-hr-benefits-pension-and-investment-stories-of-the-week-68/ Fri, 12 Jan 2024 14:00:44 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=150279 A story on mental-health themes and challenges for 2024 was the most-read story on BenefitsCanada.com this week. Here are the top five human resources, benefits, pension and investment stories of the past week: 1. Expert panel: Employers taking preventative, holistic approach to employee mental health in 2024 2. AI holds uncapped potential for pension plan sponsors’ administration, communications: […]

The post Top 5 HR, benefits, pension and investment stories of the week appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 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 […]

The post Highest-cost drugs reimbursed by Canadian public plans in 2021/22 were rare disease treatments: report appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 58% of global insurers anticipating health benefits cost increases over next 3 years: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/58-of-global-insurers-anticipating-health-benefits-cost-increases-over-next-3-years-survey/ Wed, 06 Dec 2023 14:00:08 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=148315 More than half (58 per cent) of global insurers say they anticipate higher health benefits costs over the next three years, with the average global cost trend projected to increase by 9.9 per cent in 2024, according to a new survey by WTW. The survey, which polled more than 260 insurers representing 66 countries, found […]

The post 58% of global insurers anticipating health benefits cost increases over next 3 years: survey appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> Feds name advisory group for national strategy for drugs for rare diseases https://www.benefitscanada.com/notice/appointment-notice/feds-names-advisory-group-for-national-strategy-for-drugs-for-rare-diseases/ Fri, 03 Nov 2023 13:00:31 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=146375 The federal government is appointing members to an implementation advisory group to support the launch of its national strategy for drugs for rare diseases. The members from Canada’s private payer community include: Stephen Frank, president and chief executive officer of the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association; Joanne Jung, Canadian pharmacy and clinical practice leader at […]

The post Feds name advisory group for national strategy for drugs for rare diseases appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 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). […]

The post Survey finds 60% of plan sponsors reporting increased health benefits costs appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> PMPRB report shows increased plan costs, promising pharmaceutical innovation: expert https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/pmprb-report-shows-increased-plan-costs-promising-pharmaceutical-innovation-expert/ Wed, 20 Sep 2023 13:00:50 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=143674 A recent report by the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board shows increased growth for private drug plan costs but promising pharmaceutical innovation, says Joe Farago, executive director of private payers and investment at Innovative Medicines Canada. The report also found the number of new medicines launched in Canada was higher than the median for Organisation for […]

The post PMPRB report shows increased plan costs, promising pharmaceutical innovation: expert appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> 77% of U.S. employers reporting increase in employees’ mental-health needs: survey https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-wellness/77-of-u-s-employers-reporting-increase-in-employees-mental-health-needs-survey/ Tue, 22 Aug 2023 19:00:19 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=142483 More than three-quarters (77 per cent) of large U.S. employers are reporting an increase in mental-health needs among their workforces, according to a new survey by Business Group on Health. The survey, which polled around 150 large employers employing 19 million people, found this is a 33 per cent increase compared to last year, when […]

The post 77% of U.S. employers reporting increase in employees’ mental-health needs: survey appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]> How plan sponsors, insurers are considering coverage of weight-loss drugs amid rising use of Ozempic https://www.benefitscanada.com/benefits/health-benefits/how-plan-sponsors-insurers-are-considering-coverage-of-weight-loss-drugs-amid-rising-use-of-ozempic/ Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:00:32 +0000 https://www.benefitscanada.com/?p=141133 Canadian plan sponsors and insurers are revisiting how they classify obesity drugs under their benefits plans, amid plan members’ rising demand for Ozempic as a weight-loss treatment. Ozempic, also known under the generic name semaglutide, is a drug used to treat type 2 diabetes. However, the medication has also been credited as a weight-loss treatment, […]

The post How plan sponsors, insurers are considering coverage of weight-loss drugs amid rising use of Ozempic appeared first on Benefits Canada.com.

]]>