FSA Opposing Changes to Drug Coverage
BCIT has recently approached the FSA to advise us about the implementation of a program that would limit the access to some prescriptions under our Extended Health Benefits (EHB) plan. The insurance provider, Manulife, has introduced ‘DrugWatch’ specifically to limit their costs. They are planning to implement it across the sector effective April 1, 2016.
The FSA has advised the employer that we will oppose the ‘DrugWatch’ program through arbitration if necessary. FSA members want an improved EHB package and will not tolerate a reduction in coverage. One of the major factors contributing to our strike in 2012 was a proposal to limit drug coverage to the provincial formulary. We fought hard against that and won. ‘DrugWatch’ is another attempt to implement a restricted formulary, only this formulary would be controlled by the insurer.
We’ve also pointed out to BCIT that they made a proposal in the last round of bargaining to allow them to change elements of our EHB plan in a manner that would otherwise violate the collective agreement. That would have included most elements of the plan including drug coverage. The FSA refused to accept that proposal and instead negotiated further changes to the plan that were costed by the provincial government as part of their approval of the settlement. The employer cannot now proceed to remove benefits from the agreement unilaterally when they couldn’t get agreement to do it in bargaining.
The FSA is continuing to discuss the implementation of the plan with the employer in the hope that we can prevent them from making a costly mistake. Meetings are scheduled over the next couple of weeks. This change in our coverage appears to be driven by the insurance provider rather than by BCIT, but BCIT has a responsibility to provide for and protect the benefits they have agreed to with us. The FSA will hold BCIT accountable for ensuring our drug coverage remains unchanged.
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Members of other unions that accepted changes to the drug plan have had a very miserable time – affecting cancer care, children’s prescriptions as well as causing a change to generic medications that have upset stabilized medical conditions to then have to get special compensation to return to unlisted medications. Even a name change to a common drug (eg: Oxycodone) will delist the medication until it is reveiwed and placed back on the list. This is something FSA members need to stand firm on.
Reply →in reply to Joan Walker
You are absolutely right, Joan. When we looked into who might be affected by such a change, we immediately found examples where individual members would be on the hook for thousands of dollars a month in drug costs. These initiatives are very much about shifting financial risk from corporations to individuals who are already facing hardships. It’s re-creating the kind of situation that group insurance was meant to protect us from.
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