prescription drug benefits Archives

Prescription Drug Plans: Spread Pricing Explainer

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

07 Mar 202407 Mar 2024

Lawmakers, employers, consumer groups and other stakeholders have called for more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Lack of transparency enables PBMs to engage in the practice of spread pricing where PBMs charge health plans more than they pay pharmacies for the […]

Communication Employee Benefits Health Care Prescription Drugs U.S. Wellness

Employers Grapple with Claims Costs versus Outcomes of GLP-1 Drugs

Anne Patterson

14 Nov 202314 Nov 2023

A new survey report from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans reveals U.S. employer coverage and considerations surrounding glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs, which have historically been used to treat diabetes. These drugs were also found to cause weight loss and have […]

Canada Employee Benefits Prescription Drugs Wellness

Benefit Trends Making Headlines: What to Know Now

Alyssa Hodder

01 Nov 202301 Nov 2023

Weight loss drugs have remained the headlines for most of 2023 due to their impact on diseases like obesity and diabetes. We asked Barbara A. Martinez, National Practice Leader, Drug Solutions at Canada Life to share her insights on benefit trends, GLP-1 […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance Prescription Drugs

PBM Reform Momentum Heats Up

Amanda Wilke

08 Jun 202308 Jun 2023

The fight to lower prescription drug costs is underway. Congress has introduced a handful of bipartisan bills aiming to tackle drug prices by increasing transparency on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their practices that increase drug prices for group health plans. Congressional […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Prescription Drugs

RxDC Reporting Due June 1: Here’s What to Know

Anne Newhouse

16 May 202316 May 2023

Prescription drug data collection (RxDC) is the new reporting process required by Section 204 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA). The reporting is meant to capture data on prescription drug (Rx) pricing trends, reimbursement amounts including rebates, identify how Rx costs […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Prescription Drugs Wellness

Employers Covering Prescription Drugs for Weight Loss

Anne Patterson

05 Jan 202310 Mar 2023

A healthy reset has been a standard theme entering the new year, but it shouldn’t be the only time of year workplace wellness gets prioritized. What an individual’s weight says about their health status is an evolving discussion. So too is how […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Insurance Legislative Prescription Drugs Regulatory U.S.

RxDC Reporting Will Bring Changes . . . Here’s What to Know Now

Jonas Leyrer, CEBS

07 Dec 202207 Dec 2022

Late last year, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), which contained a provision requiring health care plans to submit Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) reports to CMS. RxDC was made retroactive for 2020 but its implementation was delayed for a […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care Prescription Drugs U.S.

18 Prescription Drug Cost-Containment Strategies For Your Plan

Justin Held, CEBS

08 Jun 202107 Jun 2021

Benefits practitioners have grown accustomed to headlines addressing the escalating costs of prescription drug spending. Despite concerted efforts, the cost of commonly prescribed brand-name drugs continues to grow at alarming rates. A recent study from the University of Pittsburgh stated that over […]

Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Survey Health Care Human Resources (HR) Mental Health Prescription Drugs U.S. Wellness

Health Care Benefits: 20 Benchmarking Considerations for Your Plan

Justin Held, CEBS

31 Mar 202130 Mar 2021

Health care benefits remain a critical part of the relationship between employers and workers, especially during these times of rapid change and uncertainty. In addition to serving as an important financial safety net, these benefits act as a recruitment and retention tool. […]

401(k) Plans Coronavirus (COVID-19) Employee Benefits Health Care Retirement U.S.

Organizations Face New Health and Retirement Benefit Implications Due to COVID-19

Anne Patterson

10 Feb 202110 Feb 2021

How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted employee benefits? The International Foundation has been tracking implications for workplaces across the country, providing a snapshot of the difficult decisions employers and their workers are making regarding their retirement and health care benefits. The latest […]