Ontario to launch public consultation on restricting exclusive deals between pharmacies and health benefit insurers (www.theglobeandmail.com)

submitted 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by dwazou@lemm.ee to c/canada@lemmy.ca

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Ontario will launch a public consultation on banning exclusive deals

That measure would essentially ban “closed” preferred provider networks (PPN), in which patients can only get medication reimbursed if it comes from specific pharmacies that have confidential business agreements with their insurance company.

Quebec is currently the only province that bans PPNs.

The networks came into the spotlight in early 2024 after Manulife Financial Corporation and Loblaw announced that patients taking certain specialty drugs would have to buy their medication only from Loblaw-owned pharmacies.

Insurance companies claim closed PPNs will help ordinary people and reduce premiums.

The Ontario College of Pharmacists claims closed PPNs are a potential risk to patients’ health.

Read more about the issue:

https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/manulife-loblaw-reversal-shows-urgent-need-for-universal-pharmacare

https://carleton.ca/ghostmanagement/wp-content/uploads/Brief-PPN-Ontario_QG-FInal.pdf

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/manulife-loblaw-deal-deliver-specialty-drugs-1.7098861

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[-] vaccinationviablowdart@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

This kind of activity should prompt regulatory investigation from every possible angle. All involved businesses should be gone through with a fine tooth comb. Every louse found: squished. Incarnations and expropriation at the highest level responsible for every violation.

Of course it should be specifically banned. retroactively.