Enjoyed the new format. Great discussion @Mercer_US #Telemednow

Top challenge for employers is the rising cost of pharmacy. Join us for #MercerChats

Get ready to join #MercerChats TODAY at 11AM ET to discuss how the drug marketplace is changing over the next 3-5 years. Let's do this - Tamara McCleary, Sam Espinosa, Kip Piper, Shawna Kittridge, MHS, RPh, Donna K. Lencki, @dr_salim_MD, Sara Drake RPh, MPH, MBA #healthcare #Medicaid #Mercerchats

Let's go #MercerChats Tamara McCleary, Sam Espinosa, Kip Piper, Shawna Kittridge, MHS, RPh, Donna K. Lencki, @dr_salim_MD, Sara Drake RPh, MPH, MBA #healthcare #Medicaid #Mercerchats#Mercerchats

A1a. Biggest Rx challenge to plan sponsors: Life saving drugs (specialty, gene therapy). Lightning strike to the budget. Raises financial, access, and even moral questions. Let's get private and public sector payors working together to address cost control. #MercerChats

A1b. Need strategy for high cost drugs: ❓ what do you have now? 🔑effective access 💰 evaluate stoploss 💸alternate payment models 🔎re-evaluate risk 🤔evolve your strategy #MercerChats mercer.us/our-thinking/h…

A2. Employers can't afford...New entities-Foundation Facilitators-go after indigent care monies from Pharma foundations. Huge discount available b/c of financial hardship. So, plans exclude that drug (cover all other care); member applies for indigent care support #MercerChats

A3. Strategies under consideration for managing extremely expensive gene and cellular therapies as they emerge: 🔎Outcomes based pricing 🔎Participate in a risk pool managed by PBM 🔎Rx specific stoploss 🔎Pay for drug over time #MercerChats

Big thanks to Tamara McCleary, Sam Espinosa, Kip Piper, Shawna Kittridge, MHS, RPh, Donna K. Lencki, @dr_salim_MD, Sara Drake RPh, MPH, MBA for joining #MercerChats today! #healthcare #Medicaid

Great panel discussion Urban Institute on collection of race/ethnicity data to address #healthequity American Benefits Council #LiveAtUrban Shantanu Agrawal Voya Families USA NASHP

“Race/ethnicity data collection for health equity needs a health lens that matches health outcomes data” Shantanu Agrawal American Benefits Council Urban Institute #LiveAtUrban

Keynote speaker, Acting Assistant Secretary, EBSA, DOL, Ali Khawar - Race/Ethnicity Data not needed to show the problem, it’s to help us make a difference…as Americans this is a shared problem and a shared responsibility. American Benefits Council #LiveAtUrban Urban Institute

Let's get started - #Mercerchats

A1.1.  On average High Tech employees pay 15% of the medical premium cost compared to employees paying 20% or more of the premium across all employers #MercerChats

A1.2.  46% High Tech ERs offer at least one medical option with no payroll deduction for individual coverage; 15% offer a free family coverage plan option.  LT 5% non-high tech employers offer free medical plan option -typically for employee only coverage. #MercerChats

A2.1  Mental health support is BIG:  Digital mental health solutions (mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, video counseling) are mainstream (77%) and stress management coaching is provided by over half (58%) #MercerChats

A2.2  In the unique benefits category:  standing desks and ergonomic assessments (73%), estate planning (41%), life coaching programs. (33%) #MercerChats

A2.3  Biggest surprise: support for flexible work arrangements (86% Bay area; 79% non-Bay) considering large campuses & numerous on-site perks. Transitioning to support flexible work arrangements – e.g. 44% offer gym/fitness center reimbursement. #MercerChats

A3.  Very affordable health insurance goes a long way to supporting health equity including lots of digital access points for physical and mental health. #MercerChats

AI does not eliminate humans - it is about amplifying and enhancing human contributions. @Mercer_US