Many Canadian workers who experience a mental illness face barriers and obstacles when it comes to diagnosis, treatment and returning to work. But new virtual programs show there are steps employers can take to help employees get well and back to work. Julie Gaudry, senior director of group of business markets at RBC Insurance Services […]
The annual deductible in group benefits plans is a long-standing strategy for sharing costs with employees and encouraging more responsible consumption of benefits. But in the current environment of high-cost prescription drugs and epidemic levels of chronic disease, some industry experts say it’s time to move away from deductibles in favour of other cost-management solutions. […]
Canadian physicians are becoming more familiar with biosimilars, according to a new survey by the U.S.-based Alliance for Safe Biologic Medicines. The organization’s new survey, which polled more than 400 Canadian prescribers of biologics from 13 therapeutic specialties, found 83 per cent of respondents are either familiar or very familiar with biosimilars, compared to 58 per cent […]
With companies like Aetna Inc., Fidelity Investments and Penguin Random House offering programs to help reduce student debt, there’s a growing trend in the United States towards assisting employees with their loans. And with tax reform currently on the table south of the border, a U.S.-based advocacy group is urging the government to provide an exemption […]
Back in the 1990s, senior management at the Co-operators Group Ltd. decided to be more generous with its defined contribution pension plan. While most Canadian companies with defined contribution offerings match employee contributions — often up to five per cent of salary — the Co-operators upped its plan on both sides of the equation by […]
What can plan sponsors do about the rising costs of their drug plans? Participants at the Face to Face in Drug Plan Management Forum in Vancouver heard about some of the solutions. From boosting adherence to options for plan redesign, the sessions highlighted many of the solutions available to plan sponsors. The conference, which took […]
With big escalations in drug plan costs year after year, many plan sponsors want to get a better grip on spending. But how can drug plans better manage costs without restricting members’ access to the medications they need? At the Face to Face in Drug Plan Management in Vancouver, Michael Law, Canada research chair in […]
Non-compliance with prescription medications is a huge concern for drug plan sponsors who worry about wasting money and worsened outcomes for their members. A panel at the recent Face to Face in Drug Plan Management conference in Vancouver explored the reasons for non-adherence and offered up solutions. “No. 1 for us is making sure that […]
With increasing use of cannabis for therapeutic purposes and legalization pending for recreational use, many employers are wondering about the implications for their drug plans and the health of their employees. Zachary Walsh, clinical psychologist and assistant professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia, drew on numerous studies to discuss the potential impacts […]
What are some of the common myths and misconceptions in drug plan management? Panellists explored the issues during the recent Face to Face in Drug Plan Management conference held in Vancouver. The discussion included live polling of the audience to give attendees an opportunity to weigh as panellists added their perspectives on the issues. On […]