Face-to-Face Drug Plan Management Forum

December 9, 2008
Stop 33, Sutton Place Hotel, Toronto

AGENDA

Theme: Drug Plan Design for the 21st Century

7:30 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.              Registration and Breakfast


8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.              Welcome and Introduce Keynote


8:45 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.            Session One

Two Not-so-New Ideas: Fit to be Tried?

“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea…if you only have one.” – Canadian rock band 54-40. Maybe musicians know something we don’t about drug plan management. We lurch from one idea to another looking for the magic bullet of cost control. Some ideas are good, but the good ones can be tougher to implement and sustain. Find out if tendering and adherence can help your drug plan hit the high notes.

Presenters:  
Chris Bonnett, President, H3 Consulting
Warren Chin, President, Ilex Consulting

[Download the Presentation]



10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.           Networking Break


10:30: a.m. – 11:30 a.m.          Session Two:

Drug Trends, Hot Issues and Strategies for Private Drug Plan Sponsors

Barbara Martinez will lead a discussion on prescription drug plan spending and management for employer sponsored drug plans. You will learn what the hot new issues are and what strategies plan sponsors are adopting to manage rising drug costs. The presentation will cover:

• Drug Trends: Growth in drug spending has slowed to single digits in recent years – review of current drug trends and what’s behind them.
• Hot Issues: New issues are here that could bring spending back into the double digits. We’ll focus on how Hospital’s are shifting high cost cancer drugs onto private drug plans, new vaccines and biologic drugs and their cost impact, increasing prices for generic drugs in private plans in Ontario.
• Drug Strategies: Moving from prescription claims payment to playing an active role in managing drug dispensing and cost. We’ll discuss what strategies plan sponsors can adopt that influence how pharmaceuticals are prescribed and dispensed.

Presenter:
Barbara Martinez, Consultant, Health Care and Group Benefits, Mercer Human Resource Consulting

[Download the Presentation]

11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.          Expert Panel

How New Vaccines Will Affect Employer Drug Plans

Participants:
Leanne MacFarlane of Managed Health Care Services Inc.
Rosemarie Patodia of Shoppers Drug Mart
Dr. James Mansi of Merck Frosst
John C. Tompkins from Hewitt Associates

12:15 p.m.                              Closing Remarks and Conference Adjourns