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A closer look at growing asthma drug spend

bwolfe — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 12:57:40 +0000

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 […]

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Public sector benefits plan changes include $75k for gender affirmation coverage

Jennifer Paterson — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 13:00:19 +0000

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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How plan sponsors, insurers are considering coverage of weight-loss drugs amid rising use of Ozempic

lbailey — Thu, 20 Jul 2023 13:00:32 +0000

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, […]

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2022 Drug Plan Trends Report: High-cost drugs, DEI shaping drug plans

bwolfe — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 12:55:41 +0000

This month marks the second anniversary of the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, a 24-month span that has had profound effects on the health of benefits plan members and the status and structure of their plans. For drug plans in particular, several trends have come to light — or have accelerated — during the course […]

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Supporting employees with education, access to effective migraine medications

Jennifer Paterson — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 12:59:24 +0000

A migraine attack is much more severe than a headache because it comes with a lot of other symptoms, according to Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, a neurologist, president of the Canadian Headache Society and chair of Migraine Canada, speaking during a session supported by Abbvie at Benefits Canada‘s Chronic Disease at Work event in February. Migraine, […]

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Award finalists discuss mental health, enhanced communications amid pandemic

bwolfe — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 13:00:09 +0000

More than 19 months into the coronavirus pandemic, employers are focusing on enhanced mental-health offerings and streamlined communications for their benefits and pension plans. During a virtual roundtable on Oct. 14, the 2021 Workplace Benefits Awards finalists discussed the changes brought about by the pandemic and how they’ve adapted their benefits and pensions offerings, while looking […]

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