Pharmacogenetics – Benefits Canada.com

CPPIB investing in Canadian AI, PSP in gene-editing software company

Gideon Scanlon — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 16:00:25 +0000

The Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board is investing in a Toronto-based artificial intelligence company. The CPPIB entered a $125 million funding round for a Untether AI Corp., a company that creates software and hardware used in AI platforms. The new funding will be used to enhance its software offerings and build a new generation of products, […]

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Webinar coverage: Depression in the workplace and redesigning employee support

hillarymuller — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 13:00:49 +0000

In the last 17 months, workplaces are prioritizing their employees’ physical health above all else. But what happens when employees’ mental health falls to the wayside? “Depression is a constellation of symptoms — and one must show five out of nine symptoms with some of the symptoms in question as slight as a change in […]

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Why digital health care is here to stay following pandemic

Jennifer Paterson — Fri, 21 May 2021 11:56:18 +0000

The same technology advancements that allowed for hyper-personalized service in sectors from banking to food delivery were already in the process of remaking health-care access and delivery. And then the coronavirus pandemic hit, quickly accelerating the acceptance of digital health care in Canada. Surveys have shown 60 per cent of health-care visits are now taking […]

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Green Shield Canada acquiring virtual mental-health platform, Inkblot Technologies

lbailey — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 13:37:59 +0000

Green Shield Canada is acquiring Inkblot Technologies, a virtual mental-health platform that uses artificial intelligence-assisted technology, network effects and advanced analytics to match patients with counsellors. “Building on our previous . . . digital-health investments and partnerships, the acquisition of Inkblot fits with our strategic objective of increasing access for our clients to leading health services — […]

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Biosimilars, pharmacogenetics helping to shape future of pharmacy benefits management

mschmit — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 05:00:06 +0000

Plan sponsors with growing concerns about benefits plan sustainability should focus on a few strategic pharmacy benefits plan issues, said Mark Rolnick, executive vice-president of pharmacy innovation and patient experience at Green Shield Canada, during a session at Benefits Canada’s Face to Face Drug Plan Management Forum on Dec. 9, 2020. He recommended that plans […]

Taking the long view on effectively dealing with LTD claims

mschmit — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 04:45:22 +0000

On average, one in three Canadians will be disabled for 90 days or more at least once before they reach age 65, according to the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. Therefore, income protection is important, but it’s not always fully understood and cost is sometimes perceived as too high. As a result, some groups […]

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Plan members increasingly open to pharmacogenetics, virtual care

mschmit — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 05:00:41 +0000

Virtual-care options are gaining ground, according to the 2020 Sanofi Canada health-care survey. Looking at a scenario where plan members would receive health-care services through secure digital chat or video devices — where the health-care professionals aren’t the member’s usual providers, but would be able to share the consultation information with them if requested — […]

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New study highlights value of pharmacogenetic-guided drug treatment

mschmit — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 11:15:14 +0000

The results of a new study highlight the value of tailoring drug treatment to an individual’s genetic makeup. The pharmacogenetics clinical trial study by Green Shield Canada and the health benefits management division of HBM+ followed more than 200 outpatients who had been diagnosed with major mental-health conditions, including depression and anxiety. Participants were randomly […]

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Green Shield Canada investing in pharmacogenetics company

mschmit — Tue, 26 May 2020 11:20:38 +0000

Green Shield Canada is investing in Canadian pharmacogenetics company GenXys Health Care Systems. The two companies will be collaborating on new pharmacogenetic products, which are set to launch later this year, with a focus on driving more informed prescribing, fewer adverse drug reactions and better health outcomes for patients and plan members. “GSC has a […]

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Pharmacogenetic testing’s place in long-term disability programs

mschmit — Fri, 15 May 2020 04:53:58 +0000

Plan sponsors and insurers are increasingly wading into the waters of pharmacogenetic testing by offering the service to employees making long-term disability claims. In 2017, Sun Life partnered with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health for a pilot project that offered pharmacogenetic testing to plan members on disability leave due to a mental-health condition. […]

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