The program will include personalized education, coaching, and dispensing of medication for complex health conditions
Empire Life Insurance is planning to make its specialty drug program a standard feature in all of its group drug plans. Currently part of the company’s Actively Managed Drug Solutions portfolio, the specialty drug program will be included in new customers’ plans beginning on June 1. Current customers will enjoy the benefit upon renewal of their policies.
Specialty drugs, which are used to treat complex health conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood disorders, are high-cost prescription medications that often require special handling and administration. Customers with a pay-direct drug card can avail of the specialty drug program in all provinces except Quebec.
To deliver the program, Empire Life is teaming up with Express Scripts Canada. Employers will benefit from lower drug costs, where employees will enjoy better options in managing complex health conditions. Through education, coaching, and improved dispensing of medication, workers can better understand their condition, understand how to administer medicines themselves, gain support for complex treatments, manage side effects better, and comply better with prescriptions.
“New, high-cost drugs are beginning to put pressure on drug benefits, and our customers need solutions to keep their plans sustainable and competitive,” said Steve Pong, Empire Life’s vice president for group solutions.
Statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate increasing rates of chronic disease in Canada, which increases the need for drugs to be charged to benefit plans. At the same time, Express Scripts Canada’s 2015 Drug Trend Report showed that specialty drugs comprised just 2% of the claims they processed in 2015, but accounted for 30% of customers’ overall drug expenditures.
“Tackling cost head-on through cost shifting or cutting benefits is not the best solution for employers in the long run,” said Express Script Canada President Michael Biskey. He proposes that a drug benefit plan will help employers attract skilled employees, engage current staff, and reduce absenteeism.
Related stories:
Universal drug coverage could save millions of lives and billions of dollars
Pot-reliant employees’ rights should be recognized without ‘undue hardship’
Specialty drugs, which are used to treat complex health conditions such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and blood disorders, are high-cost prescription medications that often require special handling and administration. Customers with a pay-direct drug card can avail of the specialty drug program in all provinces except Quebec.
To deliver the program, Empire Life is teaming up with Express Scripts Canada. Employers will benefit from lower drug costs, where employees will enjoy better options in managing complex health conditions. Through education, coaching, and improved dispensing of medication, workers can better understand their condition, understand how to administer medicines themselves, gain support for complex treatments, manage side effects better, and comply better with prescriptions.
“New, high-cost drugs are beginning to put pressure on drug benefits, and our customers need solutions to keep their plans sustainable and competitive,” said Steve Pong, Empire Life’s vice president for group solutions.
Statistics from the Public Health Agency of Canada indicate increasing rates of chronic disease in Canada, which increases the need for drugs to be charged to benefit plans. At the same time, Express Scripts Canada’s 2015 Drug Trend Report showed that specialty drugs comprised just 2% of the claims they processed in 2015, but accounted for 30% of customers’ overall drug expenditures.
“Tackling cost head-on through cost shifting or cutting benefits is not the best solution for employers in the long run,” said Express Script Canada President Michael Biskey. He proposes that a drug benefit plan will help employers attract skilled employees, engage current staff, and reduce absenteeism.
Related stories:
Universal drug coverage could save millions of lives and billions of dollars
Pot-reliant employees’ rights should be recognized without ‘undue hardship’
