Are you up to date? Many adults are not up to date with routine vaccination boosters, like tetanus and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR). As we age vaccines are available, but not always publicly covered, for other preventable diseases like the flu, pneumococcal disease, and shingles. Education, easy access and reimbursement can all help motivate pl…

In this podcast you’ll hear the discussion Denise Balch has with Justin Bates, Chief Executive Officer of the Ontario Pharmacists Association on the mandate of the OPA, why Ontario falls short on the role of pharmacists in primary care, the value of engaging pharmacists to reduce the burden of disease in the workplace, and the future of pharmacy. T…

In this podcast Denise Balch of Crosslinks and Connex Health speaks with John Ly, Director of Pharmacy Operations for the Sobeys National Pharmacy Group. They discuss the drivers of provincial changes to pharmacy scope of practice, how these vary provincially, and the specifics of the expanded scope, including the role of pharmacy in disease manage…

In this podcast Denise Balch of Connex Health speaks with Ned Pojskic, VP Pharmacy Benefits Management at Green Shield Canada about obesity, why obesity is a disease, and why Green Shield is changing their reimbursement philosophy across their block of business in 2023. Ned oversees the PBM portfolio at Green Shield, including product development, …

Joining Denise Balch for this podcast is Joan Weir, recently appointed Vice President, Group Benefits, at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association (CLHIA). Joan and Denise will explore key areas of change in employee benefits: The insurance industry response to COVID-19 and the aftermath, including insights into long COVID and COVID-relat…

Joining Denise Balch as guests on this podcast are Dr. Jiwon Oh, a staff neurologist, scientist, and Medical Director of the Barlo Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Program at St. Michael’s Hospital, University of Toronto who specializes in the care of people living with MS, and Ardra Shephard, a sought-after writer, consultant and speaker who lives with MS.…

John Anacleto, Director of Private Payer Strategies & Data Insights, PDCI Market Access, joins Denise Balch to explore more on data analytics, why data is in higher demand than ever and how data can be used. John will give his insights into how data reporting and data analytics have changed, and how the industry is responding to the demand from adv…

What has changed for SMEs in group benefits? Find out by signing up to the BPHA program to hear our latest of 16 recently-updated modules. Max Mahardi, Business Development Manager at Ontario Blue Cross describes health and dental benefit plan challenges for small businesses, and innovative solutions that are available to them. In the link below Ma…

We are pleased to welcome Cole Pinnow, President of Pfizer Canada and the recently appointed Chair of the Board for Innovative Medicines Canada to this podcast. Mr. Pinnow has a background as a microbiologist in the pharmaceutical industry and a masters in business administration. He is also a Board member of Montreal InVivo, and a co-lead for the …

It’s a New Year and time to sign up for the BPHA program that includes invaluable education about the benefits industry, and comes with membership for access to additional programming and resources to makes sure you stay current with all the latest trends and developments. We’ll be updating some modules in 2022, and we added 3 brand new modules and…

The BPHA program and membership offers invaluable education about the benefits industry, and allows you to stay current with all the latest trends and developments. Building professional credibility requires an understanding of the fundamentals of group benefits. This week we are featuring George Elliott, CEBS, and Senior Group Benefits Specialist …

We're keen to share our new content with you in our Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. Listen to an excerpt of Session 1, Module 4, Pharmaceuticals – Drug Discovery and Reimbursement with Joe Farago, Executive Director of Private Payers at Innovative Medicines Canada, on the complex landscape of drug discove…

We're still not done bringing you our new content in our Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program, launched October 1, 2021. This week we are featuring a new recorded session by Laura Blair, Director of Sales at Express Scripts Canada. Listen as she describes what you'll learn in Session 8, Module 3 on Formularies and Pharmacy Benefits Man…

We've recently updated many of the modules in our Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate (BPHA) program to keep it fresh and relevant. We are excited to share with you what we've changed. This week listen to two of our new presenters, Alison Adams and Mylene Desjardins, both Account Executives from SSQ, describing what they'll cover in their upd…

New and updated content to the Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. We are bringing you a series of excerpts directly from our presenters on what you will take away from their module and why you should consider enrolling in the BPHA program. Our brand new module on vision care features Dr. Harry Bohnsack, Opto…

Updates to the Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. With new modules, new content and new presenters we are bringing you a series of excerpts from some of our sessions and insights from presenters on why you should consider enrolling in the BPHA program. You can hear some insights from new presenter Jonathan C…

This week we hear from Emily Stewart and Melissa Lougheed from Benefits by Design on what you will take away from their session, including helpful tips for advisors on how to prepare for a renewal and steps on how to conduct analysis and forecasting. Learn best practices to deliver to your client at this crucial and vulnerable milestone every year.…

We are live with program updates now! Updates to the Benefits and Private Healthcare Associate program launched October 1, 2021. With new modules, new content and new presenters we are bringing you a series of excerpts from some of our sessions and insights from presenters on why you should consider enrolling in the BPHA program. You can hear some …

Featuring a conversation with Daniel Martz, Vice-President of TELUS Health Virtual Care. Fueled by his passion for leveraging leading-edge technology to transform healthcare and improve health outcomes, Daniel leads TELUS Health’s Virtual Care team in their mission to making healthcare more accessible for all Canadians. With a career spanning over …

The BPHA program and membership offers invaluable education about the benefits industry, and allows you to stay current with all the latest trends and developments. Listen to this excerpt as new presenter Matthew Crites, Sales Supervisor at Equitable Life of Canada explains what he’ll cover in Session 3, Module 3: What to Include in Plan Marketing …

Featuring a conversation with Kevin Frankish, broadcaster, former co-host of one of Canada’s largest morning shows and current host of his own podcast, the Happy Molecule, plus Lisa Maks, a Clinical Nurse Specialist, Diabetes, at the Juravinski Hospital in Hamilton. In this podcast we will hear how Kevin Frankish, who was diagnosed with type 2 diab…

Featuring a conversation with Dr. Mark David Vincent, MB, ChB, MRCP(UK), FRCPC, Medical Oncologist, London Regional Cancer Program. Our Simplify Prior Authorization communications are gearing up. This third podcast in our dedicated prior authorization series will provide you with first hand insights into the challenges of efficient and timely acces…

Featuring a conversation with Derek Weir, Sales Manager, Optional Benefits, Medavie Blue Cross. Optional benefits (sometimes referred to as voluntary benefits) have been around a long time, but typically offerings were limited to employee or dependent life coverage. Times have changed and optional benefits can play an important role in a comprehens…

Featuring a conversation with Mike Mousseau, PhD (Neuroscience), National Wellbeing & Engagement Consultant at Gallagher Benefit Services. Neuroscientists focus on the brain and its impact on behaviour and cognitive functions. You do not come across neuroscientists every day, particularly in the employee benefits field, so it was refreshing to have…

Featuring a conversation with Leanne MacFarlane, BSc. Pharm., PhC, Director of Advocacy and Preferred Pharmacy Networks with Sobeys National Pharmacy Group. March is Pharmacists Appreciation Month and now is the perfect time to hear about how pharmacists have risen to the challenge during COVID-19, playing a critical role in patient care during the…

Featuring Chris Dalseg, BSc.Phm, R.Ph., Vice President, Strategic Growth and Marketing, BioScript. The world of specialty drug access is complex. In this podcast, Denise Balch from Connex Health speaks with Chris Dalseg, who will describe the role of specialty pharmacy in facilitating access to specialty drugs for patients. He will explain how spec…

Featuring Alan Birch, Drug Access Facilitator and Founder, Drug Access Canada. In this podcast, Denise Balch from Connex Health will be speaking with Alan Birch, who will describe his role in assisting oncology patients to secure access to the drugs they are prescribed and the challenges he faces on a day to day basis. You will also learn more abou…

In this podcast, Denise Balch from Connex Health will be speaking with Laura Blair, Director of Sales at Express Scripts Canada. Laura will explore how claim trends changed during COVID-19 and how the Express Scripts trends report has changed to deliver more meaningful analysis of claims data.Laura will also describe how the PBM sector has evolved …

Featuring Bev Herczegh, Pharmacist and Director, The Pangaea Group and Denise Balch, Principal Consultant and President, Connex Health. In this episode we’ll be giving listeners a preview into the Benefits Breakfast Club webinar on November 26th by discussing the motivation for the Simplify Prior Authorization white paper. Bev and Denise will revea…

In this episode we are speaking with Dr. Sasha High, Medical Director at High Metabolic Clinic. Dr. High is an Internist with a practice focus in Obesity Medicine. She is also a Diplomat of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, a certification held by only a handful of physicians in Canada. Dr. High has been practicing bariatric medicine since 20…

Featuring Fabricio Naranjo, partner at RSM Canada and David Mamane, leader in RSM’s cutting-edge Industry Eminence Program.In podcast #9 Fab Naranjo and David Mamane, both consulting actuaries with RSM Canada, speak with Denise Balch of Connex about how the insurance industry has responded to COVID-19 and the medium and long term impact COVID-19 wi…

Featuring Micheline Mamone, Bear Management Technician, Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. Recorded August 4, 2020. Cover photo by Zdeněk Macháček via Unsplash.By Connex Health

In this episode, Dr. Michael Nelson and François Couillard of the Canadian Association of Optometrists (CAO) join Denise Balch to explore the role of the CAO and the value it brings to optometrists and Canadians, guided by its four strategic priorities, one of which involves changes to vision care benefits in Canada.François discusses his experienc…

Featuring Beth Stefaniuk, CEBS, CHN, Vice-President, Administration, Jones DesLauriers Blevins Insurance Group and AdminPlex.In this episode we speak with Beth Stefaniuk and explore some of the important preparation as well as ongoing challenges of group benefits plan administration during COVID-19. We will discuss the role of Third Party Administr…

Featuring Durhane Wong-Rieger, PhD, President & CEO, Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders (CORD).In this episode we have the pleasure of speaking with Durhane Wong-Rieger and exploring rare disorders in a world struggling to cope with COVID-19. Durhane explains the important role of CORD in advocating on behalf of rare disorders. She also speak…

Featuring Tim Clarke, President, tc HEALTH CONSULTING.Listen to part one here: https://soundcloud.com/benefits-connexion/episode-5-digital-health-and-covid-19-part-1-of-2In part two of this two-part podcast, host Denise Balch, President of Connex Health, speaks with Tim Clarke, consultant to many of today’s digital health start ups. They explore ho…

Featuring Tim Clarke, President, tc HEALTH CONSULTING.In part one of this two-part podcast, host Denise Balch, President of Connex Health, speaks with Tim Clarke, consultant to many of today’s digital health start ups. They explore what services fall into the digital health bucket, the challenges and successes of delivering digital health pre-COVID…

Featuring Pamela Fralick, President, Innovative Medicines Canada.With host Denise Balch, President of Connex Health, Pamela Fralick provides new insights into the pharmaceutical industry response to COVID-19. Pamela will quantify the extent of international research into treatments and vaccines for COVID-19 and provide examples of the unprecedented…

Featuring Doug Kube, President, KUBE Environment, Health, Safety & Risk Consulting.With host Denise Balch, President of Connex Health, Doug Kube discusses how you and your clients can get back to business, safely. We will explore what makes COVID-19 different to other infectious diseases, where to look for industry specific information on reopening…

Featuring Michael Cavanagh, Owner, Kawartha Lakes Pharmacy and Past President, Ontario Pharmacists Association.With host Denise Balch, President of Connex Health, Mike Cavanagh speaks about how pharmacy is responding to COVID-19. He’ll discuss when COVID-19 first came onto the radar of pharmacy, how pharmacies have adapted, including changes from t…

Welcome to the first Benefits Connexion Podcast! In this episode, we have the opportunity to speak with Joan Weir, Executive Director, Health and Disability Policy at the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association. With host Denise Balch, President of Connex Health, Joan shares how insurers are responding to COVID-19, when they began to take pr…