Cashiers will often ask Canadian consumers if they’d like to donate to a charity as they pay for items at retail stores. But what about applying the concept to retirement savings? A pilot project in Mexico is taking voluntary contributions at the checkout counter to a whole new level by nudging people who are buying […]
Understanding private plans’ past cost drivers can help to predict future growth rates in drug spending, according to Brad Millson, principal for health access and outcomes at IQVIA Inc. With funding from Innovative Medicines Canada, IQVIA researchers gained insight into past and potential rates of growth in drug plan expenditures by studying the largest, national […]
With governments having announced a number of changes related to pharmaceutical policy, plan sponsors are facing a shifting environment for their drug plans. “There are a lot of things happening today in the world of pharmaceuticals, drug plans, benefit plans, pricing, reimbursement and access to drugs,” said Wayne Critchley, senior associate for the health and […]
From drug pooling to medical marijuana, plan sponsors have a number of issues to keep track of when it comes to their benefits plans. At the Face to Face Drug Plan Management forum in Vancouver this month, a panel of experts tackled some of the hot topics the industry is thinking about. Pooling: One concern […]
With a number of government reforms and new policies in the works, plan sponsors may well wonder about the potential impact on private drug plans. With that in mind, Suzanne Lepage, a private health plan strategist, led a panel discussion on new government policies and programs in the works at the Face to Face Drug […]
Sleep is a serious issue. That was a key message from Nadeem Rajabali, western Canada regional vice-president of business development for group and business insurance at Desjardins Insurance, at the recent Mental Health Summit in Vancouver. “Sleep isn’t a luxury. It’s as important as exercise and eating well to stay healthy. Lack of sleep costs […]
Ongoing exposure to trauma can have a dramatic impact on members of the military and first responders, Andy MacDonald, a consultant to the first responder community for Homewood Health Inc., said at the recent Mental Health Summit held in Vancouver. When exposed to traumatic experiences, prolonged high stress or fatigue during service, workers are at […]
To get people back to work after being off with a mental illness, the whole system — including physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists and insurers — need to engage in a collaborative effort to ensure individuals get the correct diagnosis and treatment with a focus on returning to the workplace. That’s the message Carmen Bellows, a psychologist […]
While medications to treat mental illness are a major source of drug spending, that money may be going to waste if patients don’t take their drugs as prescribed. Presenting at the recent Mental Health Summit Vancouver, Allison Nourse, national director of pharmacy innovation at Pharmasave Drugs Ltd., explored the ways community pharmacists can optimize medications […]
When a person becomes seriously depressed, the right diagnosis, rapid treatment and followup are critical to a successful recovery and return to work. Yet the stigma around mental illness and limited access to psychiatrists and psychologists can make it difficult to receive proper care. Dr. Diane McIntosh, a psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at the […]