History of Electric Power in Manitoba The history of the electrical industry in Manitoba tells the story of expediency, foresight and public responsibility. It began over a century ago during the pioneer days of street lighting and street railway transportation in Winnipeg. Before long, as the novelty of the new energy source gave way to necessity, other large communities in the province wanted the benefits that electricity could bring.

Manitoba Hydro is the prov-ince’s major energy utility, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba which serves 499,535 electric customers throughout Manitoba and 249,351 gas customers in vari-ous communities throughout southern Manitoba. Virtually all electricity generated by the provincial Crown Corporation is from self renewing water power. They are the major distributor of natural gas in the province. The Corporation’s

capital assets-in-service at original cost exceed $9 million, making them one of the largest electricity and natural gas utilities in Canada.

Manitoba Hydro has earned a reputation as one of the most reliable suppliers of electricity in the world. It also has the lowest published electricity rates. Best of all, is the fact that virtually all of Manitoba Hydro’s electricity is generated by clean, renewable hydro electricity with ample untapped potential to ensure future supplies for the province.

Manitoba’s Energy Advantage goes beyond the energy you need to power your home or your business. Manitoba Hydro also offers a full range of services that can help your firm use its energy wisely to gain critical competitive advantage. These services include :

• Pre-Construction Planning and Review

• Process Enhancements

Client Profile: Manitoba Hydro

Fall 2003Fall 2003 Volume 2, Issue 3 Volume 2, Issue 3

Client Profile: Manitoba Hydro

1

Canadian Drug Pipeline 2

B.C. Office Expansion 2

Dental Management of Sleep disorders

3

Children’s Vaccines / decisions? decisions?

3

Claimsecure launches new website

4

Inside this issue:

“Virtually all electricity generated by the provincial Crown

Corporation is from self renewing water

power...”

• Technology Assessment

You are welcome to visit the Manitoba Electrical Museum & Education Centre located at 680 Harrow Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Guided tours are available for the general public, schools and community groups.

Tours by appointment Monday – Thursday 1-4 p.m (call 204-477-7905).

For more information contact : Manitoba Hydro Corporate Head Office:

820 Taylor Avenue

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Canada R3M 3T1

General Inquiries – 204-474-3311

Facsimile – 204-475-0069

Email:customersevice@hydro.mb.ca

ClientSide ClientSide

In this issue of ClientSide we are pleased to profile one of our largest clients in Western Canada – Manitoba Hydro. This Crown Corporation joined ClaimSecure’s list of valued clients in 1999 and since that time has grown both internally and through acquisition.

educated on the risks that high cholesterol presents. New drugs launched in this therapeutic class in 2003 are Crestor® by AstraZeneca and Ezetrol® by Merck-Frosst. Diabetes In diabetes therapy, one of the most significant developments expected, is in the delivery methods for insulin. Insulin delivery by inhalation (similar to asthma inhalers) rather than the current injection method with needles and syringes is likely to enter the Canadian market in 2005 or 2006. This non-invasive delivery mechanism could improve insulin therapy compliance. Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ADHD has received little attention in the past because there has not been significant development in the past 15 years in this therapeutic area and the cost of currently available drug therapy has been relatively low ($0.50 - $1.00 per day). ADHD primarily affects chil-

dren with behaviors character-ized by inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. These children usually resist change and have difficulties in school. Concerta®, a new drug launched in September 2003, offers the advantage of eliminating multiple dosing but costs $2.00 to $3.50 per day. Two other drugs used for the treatment of ADHD are likely to be launched within the next 12 months and the cost of these new drugs is expected to be similar to Concerta®. Sources: The Brogan File, July 2003, published by Brogan Inc.

Therapeutic Choices, 3rd edition, pub-lished by Canadian Pharmacists Asso-ciation

Concerta® Submission for Formulary Evaluation, prepared by Janssen-Ortho Inc.

Canadian Drug Pipeline

Every year, the Canadian market is inundated with the arrival of new drugs that promise less side effects, more effectiveness, and new treatments that bring ways of managing previously un-treated illnesses. Needless to say, this presents plan sponsors with the challenge of extending coverage to ensure their employ-ees receive the appropriate treatment while working within a finite budget. I have highlighted three areas that, as a pharmacist, I felt would be of interest to our clients: Cardiovascular/Cholesterol This is one of the top therapeutic classes in terms of dollars spent by all private plan sponsors. The use of cholesterol lowering agents will continue to grow in the next few years, as more members age and become more

“The use of cholesterol lowering

agents will continue to grow in the next few

years…”

Linda Lin, B.Sc.Phm.,MBA ClaimSecure

Page 2 Cl ientSide Volume 2, Issue 3

ClaimSecure has expanded our operations to better serve our Western customers. On September 1, 2003 ClaimSecure opened our first Branch office located in beautiful White Rock, B.C. Contact infor-mation is as follows: Doug Swaykoski, V.P. Sales, Western Canada

B.C Office Expansion Address: ClaimSecure Inc.

13799-22A Avenue White Rock BC Canada V4A 9V8

Phone: 604-542-5613

Toll Free: 1-888-513-4464

Fax: 905-949-3029

Dental Management of Sleep Disorders caused by vibration of unsup-ported tissues in the airway. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) – the cessation of breathing dur-ing sleep that lasts for 10 seconds or longer. It is often associated with arousal from sleep and may result in a measurable fall in oxygen saturation. Hypopnea – a narrowing of the airway. Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnes Syndrome ( OSAHS) – a combination of the above. The first line of treatment usually involves the patients’ physician or sleep specialist. In many instances, the patient may undergo an overnight sleep study. Many patients with sleep apnea are introduced to a treatment called nasal continuous positive airway pressure (LPAP). A mask fits over the nose and a small generator forces air through the nose. This method is effective, but often not tolerated well due to air leaks and drying of mouth and

throat. Snorers often must undergo soft tissue revision surgery, which has limited success and is irreversible. Today, a removable oral appli-ance that repositions the jaw is a well-accepted option that offers a high degree of success and is also reversible and non invasive. During sleep, the airway in a snorer or sleep apnea patient collapses, causing a restriction in the airway. The oral appliance consists of components that attach firmly to the upper and lower teeth in each jaw and are secured together in a manner that allow for repositioning of the lower jaw and movement of the tongue away from the back of the airway. The muscles, which control the airway, are also slightly stretched in order to open the airway. Sleep disordered breathing is a condition that is becoming more common. Dentists are now part of the team of health professionals that can assist these patients.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports that 100 million North Americans of all ages fail to get a good night’s sleep. In the year 2002, the average person got 243 hours less sleep per year that they did in 1969.

Management of sleep disorders is an expanding area in medical care. Dentists now also partici-pate in the recognition and treatment of some sleep disorders. The disorders that the dentists will most often treat are referred to a sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD’s). Included here are : Snoring - loud sounds made during sleep with inhalation,

“Sleep disordered breathing is a condition that is becoming more common. Dentists are now part of the team of health professionals that can assist these patients.”

Page 3 Cl ientSide Volume 2, Issue 3

Mark Donnelly, D.D.S Dental Consultant

(chickenpox) related diseases. These vaccines will present new issues not only for patients and their physicians, but also for private insurers as the cost of the vaccines are not funded by pub-lic health plans in most regions of Canada. Prevnar, the pneumococcal vaccine, protects against seven strains of pneumococcal bacteria. These bacteria are the leading cause of ear infections,

Since 2000, several new vac-cines have become available in Canada to protect against meningococcal, pneumococcal, and varicella zoster

meningitis, and childhood pneumonia. Prevnar is primar-ily intended to reduce the risk of invasive disease, and may have little overall effect on the occurrence of acute middle ear infections, despite what consumer advertising and manufacturer detailing may suggest. Prevnar is currently available free of charge for children in Alberta and Nunavut. Elsewhere in Can-

Children’s Vaccines / decisions? decisions? decisions?

David Wong, MD Medical Consultant

(cont’d on page 4)...

“If a family could only afford one of the

three new vaccines, the vaccination

against varicella would be the

appropriate choice …”

Page 4 Cl ientSide Volume 2, Issue 3

Children’s Vaccines (cont’d from page 3)...

ada, parents must pay approxi-mately $75 or more for each injection. Menjugate, the meningococcal vaccine, protects against meningococcal group C bacte-ria. These bacteria can cause a particularly deadly form of meningitis. Menjugate is part of the basic immunization schedule in Quebec and Alberta. In other provinces, it can be purchased for about $85 or more for each shot of vaccine. Varivax, the vaccine for chickenpox, is offered free-of-charge to children in PEI, Alberta, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. In other provinces and territories, it can be purchased for about

$60 or more for each vaccine injection.

If a family could only afford one of the three new vaccines, the vaccination against varicella would be the appropriate choice – for two reasons. This vaccine is more affordable because it is given as a single injection or at most, a series of two injections and it protects against a more commonly encountered illness. Although there are serious consequences of group C meningococcal bacteria, namely meningitis and septicemia, chickenpox is by far more common.

The public funding of these vaccines is often the result of political influences, special-

interest group lobbying, and general public opinion and pressures. All of these new vaccines are effective in preventing their respective diseases. The Canadian Pediatric Society, National Advisory Committee on Immunization and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Studies recommend all of the above-mentioned vaccines for routine immuniza-tion, albeit for specific age groups and specific risk categories. In summary, the various issues to be considered in deciding whether to vaccinate a particu-lar individual are quite com-plex, and it is recommended that a physician be consulted to help guide you through them.

ClaimSecure Launches New Website

ClaimSecure is pleased to announce that we have launched our brand new, redesigned website on September 17, 2003.

ClaimSecure’s new website has been developed over the past six (6) months and includes design elements suggested by our valued customers, suppliers and our own talented employ-ees. In addition to updating the content and designing a fresh new look, ClaimSecure has developed new features including the following: 1. What’s New section –

this section identifies new services or product enhancements, office expansions, etc..

2. Frequently Asked Ques-tions (FAQs) section – save time by accessing common questions and answers quickly.

3. Expanded Forms library – central repository of useful forms segmented by client type.

4. Industry Links – access key government informa-tion sites at the touch of a button.

5. Publications section – includes “book of busi-ness data” for comparison

purposes and corporate marketing material (e.g. company brochure).

…and many more. ClaimSecure is committed to improving the services offered to our valued clients and we welcome your suggestions and feedback on future changes or enhancements. Contact your Client Service Associate at 1-888-479-7587 for more details. Thank you for your continued support. (cont’d on page 5)...

ClaimSecure is pleased to announce

that we have launched our brand

new, redesigned website on September

17, 2003.

Page 5 Cl ientSide Volume 2, Issue 3

http:/www.claimsecure.com

The articles contained herein are not meant to provide medical or other professional advice or opinions. Articles © 2003 ClaimSecure Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Your feedback is important to us. If there is anything you would like to see in this newsletter, or you have any suggestions, please contact:

Editor: Ellen Trotman, Senior Manager, Client Services

1-888-479-7587 ext. 3014 Fax: 905-949-3029 e.trotman@claimsecure.com

Associate Editor: Rita Moxam, Client Services Representative

1-888-513-4464 ext. 2585 Fax: 705-673 5968 csr@claimsecure.com

ClaimSecure Launches New Website (cont’d). . .

Visit our health library which has recently been updated.

IMPORTANT NOTE: ClaimSecure clients who curently login to our secure site using a USERNAME and a unique PASS-WORD will now enter the site

from the “Online Services” menu located on the left hand side of the “Home Page” screen. Please click on the “Client” button to initiate the login process. Once

the user has successfully logged in, the other steps of the process have remained unchanged.