Montréal, February 1, 2013 — Less than two weeks after Québec patients were provided access to the innoviCares program, over 5,000 patients have already registered, but some are disappointed that they cannot use their card to receive their prescribed brand name medications. By covering the difference in cost between brand name medication and generic alternatives, this program ensures the continuity of care for patients who have been prescribed a brand name medication.

“The pace of registration for innoviCares shows the demand from Quebecers for more patient choice, but we have seen some confusion and misunderstanding in recent media coverage on the innoviCares program, resulting in frustration for patients, pharmacists, and physicians,” said Steve Nicolle, CEO of STI Technologies Limited, solution provider for the Canadian healthcare market and creator of the innoviCares program. While the RAMQ does not have a problem with the program, the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec has been asked for its advice by Québec’s Minister of Health and Social Services, Dr. Réjean Hébert. 

“To clarify, the innoviCares card provides patients the choice of receiving brand or generic medication at their pharmacy; it does not impact what their physician prescribes. Insurance coverage varies on an individual plan basis, with the recent changes regarding the 15 year rule, many patients on both private plans and the public plan are already benefitting from the innoviCares card”, says Mr. Nicolle. “Additionally, the innoviCares program protects the privacy of all patient information and personal information is not shared with any participating pharmaceutical companies. We are fully confident the innoviCares program is compliant with all legal and ethical guidelines. Given the importance of this social issue, we are awaiting on the Ordre des pharmaciens du Québec to give its advice to pharmacists on the matter. In the meantime, with the interest of Québec patients in mind, we encourage pharmacists to allow patients to make the choice to use the innoviCares card and receive the respective benefits.”

Patients and healthcare professionals can call 1-888-806-6394, if they have any questions on innoviCares.

About the innoviCares patient benefit program

The recent changes in Québec provincial legislation, the elimination of the 15 years rule, came into effect on Monday, January 14, 2013. Therefore, the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) will no longer fully reimburse about 60 brand drugs that were, up until now, protected by this rule. The RAMQ will thus only reimburse the lowest priced medication, historically meaning the generic alternative.

It is here where the innoviCares program provides benefits and addresses the patients’ interests and their medication therapy needs.  It provides Quebec patients, whether they are insured through public or private drug plans, with a new option, to continue on the brand medication they have been prescribed by their physician.

STI cards, such as the innoviCares card, are used by millions of people across Canada and accepted in thousands of pharmacies every day, including in Québec. Quebecers can now obtain, at no cost to them, a patient benefit card on the innovicares.ca website. The innoviCares card is designed to cover the difference in ingredient cost between the brand drug and the generic alternative. The patient simply presents his or her innoviCares card along with their prescription each time they visit their pharmacy to have their prescription filled. 

A new program offers patients the opportunity to take or remain on many trusted brand name drugs, by providing additional coverage for medications, medical devices and health products.

Montréal, January 18, 2013 — The recent changes in Quebec provincial legislation, the elimination of the BAP-15 rule, came into effect on Monday, January 14, 2013. Therefore, the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) will no longer fully reimburse about 60 brand drugs that were, up until now, protected by this rule. The RAMQ will thus only reimburse the lowest priced medication, historically meaning the generic alternative.

Many Quebecers insured through public or private drug plans who are prescribed brand name drugs were left with only two options, to be switched to the generic alternative or pay the difference. The innoviCares program provides patients with a new option, to continue their treatment on many brand name medications that they know and trust, without the burden of additional costs.

"Beyond the price factor, with time, many patients gain a sense of security and confidence with their medical treatment," explains Denis Tanguay, Pharmacist and President of Cliniconcept inc. "With the elimination of the rule that protects certain brand drug patents for a 15-year period in Québec, the launch of the innoviCares program comes as great news for those who wish to continue using many of the medications their doctors prescribed and that they know and are comfortable with."

Quebecers can now obtain, at no cost, a patient benefit card on the innovicares.ca website. The innoviCares card is designed to cover a portion of the drug cost. The patient simply needs to present his or her card along with their prescription each time they visit their pharmacy to have a prescription filled.

"By joining innoviCares, a free patient benefit program, many of those affected by the new drug reimbursement terms will be able to make informed decisions about their available options," said Mr. Oliver Nemeskéri, Vice-President of Operations at STI Technologies Limited, a Canadian healthcare IT company, which manages the innoviCares program. "The innoviCares card currently covers dozens of medications used by Quebecers everyday, with new products being continuously added. A complete list of medications can be found on our innoviCares website."

How can patients join InnoviCares?
When visiting innovicares.ca, patients can instantly download an innoviCares card. The card will be immediately activated and ready for use in all Québec pharmacies. Patients will also receive a welcome package in the mail along with a personalized benefit card and the terms of use.

About STI Technologies Limited
STI Technologies Limited is one of the largest transactional marketing companies in Canada and a supplier of innovative solutions for the country's healthcare market. Active in Québec for the past 10 years, this private company revolutionized the way pharmaceutical companies manage sample distribution by involving pharmacies in the process. More specifically, STI developed a card that bridges the four distinct worlds of the pharma, physicians, patients and pharmacy, and offers choice and affordable access to medications.

New website enables greater choice & access to brand name medications for Canadians

HALIFAX – October 15^th, 2012 – STI, innovative solution provider for the Canadian healthcare market, announces the launch of innovi.ca, which provides easy access to the country’s leading patient benefit programs, without the obligation to register or share any personal information.

Patient benefit programs provide supplementary coverage for prescription drugs, enabling patients to gain access to or remain on the medication prescribed by their physicians. Many of these programs bridge the difference in cost between a brand drug and the generic alternative, allowing patients to receive brand medication at the same cost as the available generic.

Patient benefit programs provide patients, healthcare professionals, and the Canadian healthcare system with access, choice, improved adherence and patient safety. Innovi.ca amalgamates the leading patient benefit programs into one site, with the ability to search by the brand or generic name. The programs incorporated in this site are immediately accessible with a downloadable eCard.

Innovi.ca is launching with many widely used programs for large brand name medications such as Crestor, Concerta, Nexium and Plavix.

“Over a million Canadians have benefited from the choice that patient benefit programs offer them”, says Steve Nicolle, CEO of STI. “Innovi.ca is designed to answer the top questions we are now getting, such as “is there a program for my drug?” and “how do I get a card?”.”

All patient benefit cards must be accompanied by a valid prescription and presented at a patient’s local retail pharmacy to receive medication as prescribed.

Mary Jane Leslie, Marketing Associate, STI
Tel: 902-442-2071
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.smartsti.com

About STI Technologies Limited

www.smartsti.com
www.innovi.ca 

New Pharmacy Partners Adopt the STI Meter Reimbursement Program

HALIFAX, Oct. 11, 2012 - STI, innovative solution provider for the Canadian healthcare market, announces the addition of Express Scripts Pharmacy Ltd, Wescana Pharmacy and Pure Integrative Pharmacies to their growing list of companies in the STI Pharmacy Partner Program.

The blood glucose meter reimbursement program is one of the STI pharmacy partner programs and offers a pharmacy workflow friendly method to receive timely and accurate reimbursement for all meter placements to diabetes patients.

"STI's solution is very convenient and easy to use," says Douglas Ma, Regional Pharmacy Manager for Pure Integrative Pharmacy. "All our pharmacists are able to spend more time with our patients and educate them on their glucose meters because of our partnership with STI."

In a post Sarbanes-Oxley world, STI's proprietary reimbursement solution provides meter manufacturers with the same integrity of fully adjudicated claims processing upon which billions of pharmaceuticals have been processed.  Furthermore, the STI solution benefits from full auditability in line with industry initiatives, including the Canadian Health Care Anti-Fraud Association.

"STI pioneered this solution and with the full backing of all of the blood glucose meter manufacturers in Canada, we have successfully processed over half a million meters in pharmacies across Canada", says Steve Nicolle, CEO of STI.

STI has been working diligently since the launch of the STI Pharmacy Partner Program, in June 2012, to ensure pharmacy partners are aware of the opportunities to participate in exclusive STI programs such as blood glucose meter reimbursement, patient insight, co-branded promotions and patient benefit card distribution. These programs promote pharmacy loyalty leading to an increase in overall pharmacy business. The STI Pharmacy Partner Program website provides tools such as: online customer support, store level activity reporting, and card ordering, all packaged for pharmacy at no cost.

In addition to the STI Pharmacy Partner Program, STI provides various programs that are processed through thousands of pharmacies across Canada daily, such as alternative sampling, patient assistance, and patient benefit, that collectively give millions of Canadians greater choice of and broader access to the best medications.

"The STI meter reimbursement model has made distributing of meters, training and billing so easy," says Shafik Rajani, president and CEO of Wescana Pharmacy. "Additionally, it saves us time from our already busy day to try and track down each individual sales rep for meter and training reimbursement." Rajani goes on to say, "With this program, we can do the payment processing in a matter of seconds and be guaranteed timely reimbursement."

In addition to the programs STI provides pharmacy at no cost, they also offer innovative cloud-based software solutions that allow pharmacy to efficiently roll-out the new expanded scope of practice services, such as immunization and wellness clinics.

For further information:

Mary Jane Leslie, Marketing Associate
Tel: 1-902-442-2071
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.smartsti.com