TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2005 - Green Shield hosts Benefits Forum 2005 - Take a Closer Look.
There have been many forums and announcements about the state of health care in Canada. Unfortunately, not as much time has been spent on how employers can address these issues, now and in the future. To understand the effects of changes in the health care system and to help plan for the issues that employers face, Green Shield hosted a benefits forum for plan advisors. “Taking a closer look at health benefit planning” focused on providing insight on current and emerging health care cost drivers and escalators – both from a broad national view and from a health benefits planning perspective.
Over 120 plan advisors and customers attended this event which was held in Toronto at The Granite Club. Their comments were resoundingly positive - “Great info and great programs. Green Shield shows leadership.”
Green Shield’s specialists in Claims, Pharmacy and Product Development provided attendees with Green Shield’s innovative strategies. Wendy Murkar, Vice-President Claims Administration discussed current issues in Canadian health care and their impact on benefit plan design. Wendy’s remarks on the need for change were framed on information from the Conference Board of Canada - health benefits are costing plan sponsors approximately 6% of payroll, and that number is expected to reach 8% by 2007. Total health care spending is expected to rise to $170 billion by 2020. She detailed what plan providers would need to address in the coming years, including plan language.
Mark Jackson, Provider & Professional Services Liaison presented Green Shield’s cost management strategies, upcoming initiatives and a view to what could be done to accommodate future costs.
Mike Brown, Director Strategic Alliances and Product Development, focused on Green Shield’s newest response to the demands in the marketplace – Passport to Health™ and its first product, Benefit Insight™.
“Today’s health care environment is both complex and changing,” said David Garner, Green Shield Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “There are many issues to be dealt with and there is much more to this business than just today’s cost. Green Shield Canada is preparing for the future with innovative strategies that address not only costs but the entire continuum of health care benefits.”
“Our clients will be faced with tough choices – they need to do that from a position of knowledge,” said Gren MacDonald, Vice-President, Sales and Marketing, in his closing remarks. “That is where we need to work together, sharing information, building on our own special strengths, serving our clients to the very best of our ability.”
Green Shield Canada’s response
Green Shield has developed products and services that address the emerging need for managing the cost of benefit plans.
1. Passport to Health™ is a new research and development initiative that helps plan sponsors to manage benefit costs while promoting healthy outcomes.
2. Green Shield’s Initial Days Supply program was developed after a study determined that 30-50% of new prescriptions fail to produce the desired outcome – and up to 37% of new prescriptions are abandoned after the first month of treatment. Initial Days Supply restricts first-time prescriptions to a 30 day supply.
3. Heading into its tenth year, Green Shield Canada’s Conditional Drug Formulary™ offers the best assurance that the right drug goes to the right patient at the right time.
About Green Shield Canada
As Canada's only national not-for-profit health and dental benefits carrier, our mission is to serve the public interest by providing the most efficient and effective benefits programs. We are committed to exceeding our clients' expectations by offering the highest quality of service and can be relied on to be responsive and flexible. Visit www.greenshield.ca for more information.