Ms. Jennifer Collier reports

SUN LIFE LAUNCHES PROGRAM WITH OPTIMED HEALTH PARTNERS TO MAKE SPECIALTY DRUGS MORE ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE

Sun Life Financial Inc.'s Sun Life U.S. has named OptiMed Health Partners as a preferred partner to further the company's goal of improving health care access, while also managing rising health care costs. The new program through OptiMed will identify opportunities to administer specialty drugs to members who need them -- in a convenient setting, such as the member's home or an infusion centre -- working in concert with the member's physician and care team. This type of highly co-ordinated and personalized delivery system reduces the risk of infections and complications for patients while decreasing the treatment costs for high-cost specialty drugs.

The new solution, Medical RX Management powered by OptiMed, is an extension of Sun Life's Clinical 360 program, which combines innovative data analytics with superior clinical expertise to identify cost savings and ways to optimize patient care and outcomes. At no additional cost to the client, OptiMed's vast experience in effectively managing specialty medication trends will help those who self-finance their health plans better manage their health care costs. According to KFF, an independent non-profit organization focused on national health issues, 65 per cent of covered workers in the United States are in a self-financed plan, where employers pay their own medical claims.

"Expensive specialty drugs are major contributors to escalating health care costs which can significantly impact self-funded plans," said Jennifer Collier, president of health and risk solutions, Sun Life U.S. "Through this collaboration with OptiMed, we will tackle two pressing issues in the health care ecosystem -- access and cost. Medical Rx Management powered by OptiMed will provide more ways for members to receive vital health care while reducing unnecessary costs for our clients."

"As therapeutic advancements continue, it is essential for plans to lean on industry experts and partnerships such as this, to promote sustainability and high levels of clinical support to members when they need it most," said Rusti Greis, vice-president, business development, for OptiMed Health Partners. "Our passion to reimagine health care solutions that deliver unsurpassed value, leverages technology and concierge services, creating an exceptional patient experience and driving positive industry change."

OptiMed provides specialty infusion medications and therapy management for many conditions including a large number of medications listed in Sun Life's annual high-cost claims and injectable drug trends analysis of medical stop-loss claims.

OptiMed's program has been reviewed and accredited by two nationally recognized accreditation bodies focused on patient care and safety.

Sun Life manages high-dollar medical claims for more than 2,800 self-financed employers covering more than nine million people. Utilizing its extensive medical claims database, Sun Life provides expert insights each year on clinical conditions and medical trends that drive high-cost claims as well as how people utilize their health care. Sun Life is the largest independent stop-loss provider in the U.S. according to data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. An independent stop-loss provider does not sell medical claim administration services.

About Sun Life Financial Inc.

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of March 31, 2023, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.36-trillion.