THE FACTS

1. Pharmaceuticals have been the major source of increases to your benefit plans.

2. Generally , most plan costs have been driven by chronic disease states such as Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal Disorders, Mood Disorders, Asthma, Lipids, and Diabetes.

4. According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Since 1997, pharmaceuticals have consumed the second-largest share of health dollars. In 2008, spending on drugs (including both prescribed and non-prescribed medications) is expected to account for 17.4% of health care spending ($29.8 billion), up from 15.0% a decade ago and 8.8% in 1975.

5. Current efforts to control these costs have been to use negative barriers or road blocks to therapeutic choices by physicians and patients. Things such as tiered plans or special authorization forms , etc.

6. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER..... It doesn't matter if you are a Union Member, Physician, Actor, Government employee, etc.... Your benefit premiums are growing, co-pays increasing, increased restrictions to therapeutic options, and we are aging.

7. We need a new approach. Prescribe the Solution.

IT IS TIME TO TRY A NEW APPROACH.