Prescription Drugs Archives - Page 4 of 5

Opioid Crisis and the Workforce: A Firsthand Perspective

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

05 Sep 201821 Jan 2019

The opioid crisis has far-reaching impacts in both the United States and Canada, including the workforce. John S. Gaal, Ed.D., director of training for St. Louis-Kansas City Carpenters Regional Council, saw firsthand the impact opioid abuse has had on the construction industry […]

Employee Benefits Mental Health Opioid Abuse Prescription Drugs

4 Ways to Control Substance Abuse Treatment Costs

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

18 Jun 201820 Jun 2018

Treating opioid addiction has become a costly problem for health plans. Particularly troubling are reports of unethical treatment facilities that exploit patients, failing to deliver on their promises of recovery. Because many of these facilities are not in-network health care providers, they […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Prescription Drugs

No Magic Pill to Cure Specialty Drug Costs (But Some Preventive Measures)

Julie Stich, CEBS

05 Jun 201808 Aug 2018

Employers and plan sponsors scrutinize the cost of their health care benefit plans with a keen eye. One area that causes major eye twitch is specialty prescription drugs. As reported by AARP, the retail price of specialty drugs increased by almost 10% […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Prescription Drugs Talking Benefits Podcast

The Costly and Complicated World of Specialty Drugs

Anne Patterson

25 May 201808 Aug 2018

Each month, the International Foundation’s three resident benefits nerdthusiasts Julie Stich, Kelli Kolsrud and Justin Held, meet to discuss the top stories in retirement and health care, the latest benefits hot topics, and take a deeper dive into a trending benefits topic. This […]

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Employee Benefits Health Care Mental Health Opioid Abuse Prescription Drugs

When Opioid Addiction Shows Up at Work

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

02 Feb 201822 Sep 2020

When his teenaged daughter came home with an opioid prescription after having her wisdom teeth removed, Randall Kratz challenged her doctor. Kratz, senior account manager for FEI Behavioral Health in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had worked as a substance abuse counselor and knew about […]

Canada Health Care Prescription Drugs

Marijuana Coverage Calls for Clear and Explicit Plan Language

Robbie Hartman, CEBS

09 Jan 201810 Jan 2018

To cover or not to cover, that is the question for benefit plans when it comes to medical marijuana. To avoid the slings and arrows of plan beneficiaries and other Shakespearean drama, plan administrators should check the clarity of their plan language […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance Opioid Abuse Prescription Drugs

Opioid Epidemic: The Role of Workplace Injuries

Kathy Bergstrom, CEBS

21 Nov 201721 Jan 2019

Private employers reported 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in 2016, and it’s likely that some of those employees received prescriptions for an opioid to manage their pain. In fact, research shows that workers’ compensation insurers spend about $1.54 billion annually […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Opioid Abuse Prescription Drugs

Employers Feel the Impact of the Opioid Epidemic

Staff

03 Oct 2017

91 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose. It’s a growing epidemic that no one can ignore—including employers. Of individuals misusing pain relievers, about two-thirds are currently employed, making opioid abuse a problem in workplaces all across the country. An International […]

Affordable Care Act (ACA) Employee Benefits Prescription Drugs

Generic Drugs Coming to a Store Near You, Faster

Guest Contributor

19 Jul 2017

Do you wish that you could once again play softball without worrying about the rising costs of patent-protected prescription drugs? Are you struggling to walk up the stairs without having the weight of drug payments on your shoulders? Well, the Supreme Court […]

DOL Employee Benefits Health Care Human Resources (HR) Mental Health Prescription Drugs Wellness

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Rights: What Employers Need to Know

Lois Gleason, CEBS

05 Jul 201705 Jul 2017

Employees are increasingly aware of their rights to mental health and substance abuse treatment through employer-sponsored health plans. Are you aware of what your plan needs to do? Below are resources to help. The U.S. government is educating individuals on the Mental […]