Marc Kealey Online

The current wave of prescription drug reform across Canada could result in a range of benefits for plan sponsors, but the process is still in its infancy and the outcome is far from clear.

According to a panel of experts, organizations that are proactive and ready to cut a deal will fare much better than those which choose to let the government set the rules for them.

A recent International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans webinar entitled Law & Order: the case for drug reform in Canada featured Marc Kealey, president of ArcisRx and principal with Kealey & Associates, Inc, and Murray Gold, a partner Koskie Minsky LLP. They explained that as Canada tires of its dubious distinction of paying the highest prices in the world for generic drugs, provincial governments have taken—or will be taking—action to bring costs down.

Quebec, Ontario and Alberta have either proposed or tabled drug reform legislation and British Columbia and Atlantic Canada are expected to do so shortly. The benefits of such reforms—should they be passed—are enhanced affordability for plan sponsors, clinical expertise for drug plan re‐design and analytics, and an alternative distribution process to get medications to plan members with assurances of high levels of service and cost savings.

Read the rest – http://www.benefitscanada.com/benefit/health/article.jsp?content=20100514_171312_11656