ACRO expands membership with addition of three digital technology companies
The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is pleased to announce the expansion of its membership to include ERT, Oracle and Veeva. These new ACRO member companies, with their focus on digital technologies that enable global clinical trials, characterize the ongoing innovation and evolution of contemporary clinical research. ACRO now has 12 member companies.
ACRO testifies before IRS and Treasury Department on proposed Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (BEAT) regulation
On Monday, March 25, 2019 ACRO provided testimony at a public hearing held by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and Treasury Department...
EU efforts turn towards digital for 2019
2018 was a busy and productive year for ACRO’s European Scientific & Regulatory Committee, which meets quarterly in London. While the Committee focused largely on the continuing implementation of the EU Clinical Trial Regulation, there were also opportunities to engage with regulators on other topics ranging from European regulatory strategy to Advanced Therapies to the urgent challenges of Brexit.
Dr. Cynthia Verst of IQVIA Elected 2019 ACRO Chair
Washington DC – The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has elected Dr. Cynthia Verst,...
UK Government focus on strengthening clinical research amidst unique challenges of Brexit
The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) convenes discussion series that seeks to advance an industry with important health and economic impacts...
ACRO members talk UK competitiveness and enabling post-Brexit success
What happens to clinical research when the UK leaves the EU’s common market and regulatory structure? When public perceptions seem locked onto...
Who’s in and who’s out? ACRO talks Inclusion-Exclusion Criteria
ACRO joins FDA public meeting to discuss trial risks and rationale, benefits and barriers Clinical trials have an enormous number of inter-related,...
ACRO Opposes Fatally-Flawed Right-To-Try Legislation
In May of 2017 the Board of Directors of the Association of Clinical Research Organizations, which represents the world’s leading clinical research...
British MP Benn talks Brexit challenges and the future of UK clinical research industry
The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) highlights contributions to health and economy (Leeds, UK) – Facing unprecedented challenges associated with Brexit,...
John Ratliff of Covance Elected 2018 ACRO Chairman
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has elected John Ratliff, CEO of Covance Drug...
ACRO Urges Modernization of the R&D Tax Credit
WASHINGTON – November 14, 2017 – As the Senate begins debate on a tax reform bill, the clinical research industry hopes that...
ACRO Testifies About Clinical Trials In New Jersey
Washington, DC – October 24, 2017 – On October 19 ACRO Executive Director Doug Peddicord, Ph.D., testified at a public hearing of...
Majority of Americans Open to Clinical Trial Participation If Recommended by a Doctor, New Study Finds
WASHINGTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The Association of Clinical Research Organizations (ACRO) applauds Research!America for a recently released survey on the public’s perception of clinical trials....
Surprise! Brand-Name Drug Prices Fell in 2019 (rerun)
This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for today’s video webinar: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers.Click here to see the original post and comments from January 2020.
Manufacturers recently announced list price increases for many brand-name drugs. The typical increase was about 5%. Judging by recent history, these moderately higher list prices will translate into another year of falling brand-name drug prices in 2020.
This surprising conclusion comes from our analysis of SSR Health data on prices for more than 1,000 drugs. Details below.
SSR Health data reveal that list prices for brand-name drugs rose by about 5% in 2019. However, net prices (after rebates and discounts) decreased by -3.1%. Drug makers discounted their brand-name drug list prices by an average of 45%.
Too many journalists and politicians remain committed to the false narrative of “skyrocketing drug prices.” In 2020, Congress may again take up drug price legislation. Let’s all hope that our country builds its public policies based upon accurate facts and reliable data. Hope has to triumph over experience eventually.
Read more »
Express Scripts vs. CVS Health: Five Lessons From the 2020 Formulary Exclusions and Some Thoughts on Patient Impact (rerun)
This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for this Friday’s video webinar: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers.Today's rerun highlights one of the most effective tactics that PBMs have developed to extract deeper discounts from brand-name drug makers. COVID-19 seems likely shift the U.S. payer mix away from commercial health plans. Expect even tighter formulary management and more restrictions as PBMs work even harder to cut costs for their plan sponsor clients.
Click here to see the original post and comments from January 2020.
For 2020, the two largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs)—Express Scripts and the Caremark business of CVS Health—have again increased the number of drugs they have excluded from their standard formularies. The 2020 formulary exclusion lists are available below for your downloading pleasure.
Below, I highlight my key takeaways from the 2020 lists:
- The number of exclusions
- Management of specialty drugs
- Indication-based formularies
- The slow adoption of biosimilars
- The PBMs’ patient-unfriendly exclusions in the hepatitis C category
Read on for a look at this year’s exclusions along with some closing thoughts on what exclusions mean for patients.
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Why Part D Plans Prefer High List Price Drugs That Raise Costs for Seniors (rerun)
This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for this Friday’s video webinar: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers.Part D reform has faded from the policy debate. This rerun explains why it is still needed. FYI, this is my favorite article from 2020 (so far).
Click here to see the original post and comments from January 2020.
Our high-list-price/high-rebate system remains a fundamental source of warped incentives and cascading problems within the Medicare Part D program.
For proof, check out the previously unpublished data below on market share for products that treat hepatitis C. Despite manufacturers offering products with lower list prices, Medicare Part D plans have rejected the therapeutically identical but lower-priced versions of these drugs.
List prices significantly affect seniors’ out of-pocket costs, so Part D plans are needlessly costing many of them thousands of dollars. The federal government's Medicare spending is also unnecessarily higher.
Anyone concerned about drug prices should pay close attention to this situation. Part D plans and seniors who don’t need specialty medications are benefiting, while seniors who need treatment with specialty medications are ripped off. Just another day inside the gross-to-net bubble!
Read more »
Express Scripts + Prime Therapeutics: Our Four Takeaways From This Market Changing Deal (rerun)
This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for this Friday’s video webinar: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers.I suspect this deal will remain profitable for the participating companies even as COVID-19 alters the US. prescription payer mix. Click here to see the original post and comments from January 2020. National market shares for the largest PBMs in 2019 appears as Exhibit 88 of our 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
P.S. Sorry that today's meme is one day too late for Star Wars day.
Just before the holidays, Cigna’s Express Scripts business announced a market-changing deal with Prime Therapeutics. Click here to read the press release.
There's been very little written about this transaction, though it has potentially major implications. Below, I share my thoughts on the following topics arising from the deal:
- Implications for manufacturers and pharmacies
- The role of the secretive Ascent Health Services
- What this all means for Walgreens
- Why the Federal Trade Commission won’t challenge the deal
The scale, scope, and interconnectedness of today’s market participants make the system increasingly resistant to massive disruption from either external players like Amazon or a government takeover. Like it or not, the channel will continue to gain power and extract profit. Read on and see if you agree.
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Insurers + PBMs + Specialty Pharmacies + Providers: Will Vertical Consolidation Disrupt Drug Channels in 2020? (rerun)
This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts while I prepare for this Friday’s video webinar: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers.Life was very different when I originally published today’s article. 2020 is not turning out to be quite what any of us expected. However, the pandemic has exposed some intriguing pros and cons of vertical consolidation. Click here to see the original post and comments from December 2019.
The largest insurers, PBMs, and specialty pharmacies have now combined into vertically-integrated organizations. As I explain below, these companies have also been rapidly integrating with healthcare providers.
I also provide an updated look at these companies and highlight strategies that they are using—or could use—to control the channel. I believe that these insurer / PBM / specialty pharmacy / provider organizations are poised to restructure U.S. drug channels by exerting greater control over patient access, sites of care/dispensing, and pricing.
If they can effectively coordinate their sprawling business operations, they will pose a substantial threat of disruption to the existing commercial strategies of pharma companies.
Will they succeed by better managing care and costs, or merely by extracting higher profits from our convoluted system?
Read more »
Elsevier: Challenges and Trends to Watch in 2020 (Guest Post)
Today’s guest post comes from Trygve Anderson, Vice President of Commercial Pharmacy at Elsevier.Trygve discusses trends and challenges to watch in 2020, including drug pricing transparency, the approval and interchangeability of biosimilars, and stakeholder access to timely and accurate data.
Learn more about Elsevier’s information analytics capabilities from its video: Evaluating Drug Data Yields Business Value.
Read on for Trygve’s insights.
Read more »
Drug Channels News Roundup, April 2020: Drug Pricing Outlook, COVID-19 Data Tracker, Community Oncology Clinics, and My Favorite Chart of 2020
Rumor has it that Spring has finally reached our worldwide headquarters here in beautiful downtown Philadelphia. (See photo at right.) While we wait to go outside, please enjoy this month’s selection of noteworthy news:- The outlook for drug prices
- A outstanding (and free!) resource for tracking COVID-19 daily data
- What’s up with community oncology practices?
P.S. Join the more than 9,200 followers of my curated links to neat stuff at @DrugChannels on Twitter. My recent tweets have highlighted: Prime Therapeutics new gene therapy offering, AmerisourceBergen’s laudable deal with the Justice Department, the Costco/Instacart deal, Rite Aid’s new CEO, clinical trial trends, vaccine pricing, and much more! I have also been tweeting under-the-radar stories about how the coronavirus is affecting drug channels.
Read more »Tomorrow (May 1), Drug Channels Institute will host the first of two live video webinars: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies. We'll host the second video webinar—Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers—on May 8. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP. Contact Paula Fein (paula@drugchannelsinstitute.com) for our special promo codes for multiple viewing sites. DCI will donate 20% of all profits from these events to The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
The Top 15 Specialty Pharmacies of 2019: PBMs Stay On Top
In Drug Channels Institute's list of the top 15 pharmacies of 2019, we show that many of the largest U.S. pharmacies are now central-fill mail and specialty pharmacies operated by PBMs and insurers.To complement that broader ranking, we present below our exclusive list of the top 15 pharmacies based on specialty drug dispensing revenues. Consistent with our previous analyses, PBMs and insurers have retained their dominance over specialty drug channels, while smaller pharmacies are facing increased competition and profit pressures.
I see upside for specialty pharmacies in the aftermath of the pandemic. This growth will come at the expense of provider-administered drug channels. I expect the top companies’ share will increase in 2020, due to mergers and business transitions among the largest PBMs. However, the increasing role of government payers may create opportunities for smaller pharmacies.
This Friday, I’ll discuss how COVID-19 will affect the specialty pharmacy market during the first of my two live video webinars.
Read more »Over the next two weeks, Drug Channels Institute will host two live video webinars: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies (May 1) and Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers (May 8). CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP. Contact Paula Fein (paula@drugchannelsinstitute.com) for our special promo codes for multiple viewing sites. DCI will donate 20% of all profits from these events to The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Medication Access During Uncertain Times—Improving Provider Workflows to Help Patients in Need
Today’s guest post comes from Miranda Gill, Senior Director of Provider Network at CoverMyMeds.Miranda reviews how the pandemic affects the ability of healthcare workers to complete administrative responsibilities like prior authorization. She then outlines how electronic automation is helping patients get needed medications while face-to-face interactions are restricted.
Learn more about healthcare IT solutions for providers and patients in CoverMyMeds’ 2020 Medication Access Report, or schedule a virtual meeting.
Read more »
Three Early Signs That COVID-19 Could Disrupt the Buy-and-Bill Channel
Will home infusion growth be a long-overdue correction for the buy -and-bill channel or a temporary blip that will soon vanish?For some time, I have been tracking the evolution of the buy-and-bill system for provider-administered drugs. The data have shown that hospital outpatient departments have been displacing physician offices. Amid this shift, home infusion providers have accounted for a minority of commercial medical benefit spending and a tiny share of Medicare Part B spending.
However, the coronavirus pandemic is triggering new growth in home infusion for buy-and-bill products. Below, I highlight the early signs of a marketplace change. I believe that some of these short-term shifts in the buy-and-bill market will persist even after we have recovered from COVID-19. They may even slow the runaway growth of the 340B Drug Pricing Program.
If not, then I suppose we'll just keep living in a world with limited home infusion over and over.
Read more »In early May, Drug Channels Institute will host two live video webinars: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies (May 1) and Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers (May 8). CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP. DCI will donate 20% of all profits from these events to The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Watch my video invitation below.
What Is Payer Intelligence—And How Can It Be Combined With Technology to Enhance Patient Access?
Today’s guest post comes from Scott Dulitz, Chief Strategy Officer at TrialCard. Scott discusses how combining payer intelligence with market-leading technology can enhance patient access.TrialCard recently acquired Policy Reporter, a healthcare software solutions company that provides payer intelligence to the biopharmaceutical, medical device, and diagnostics industries. To learn more, schedule a demo of Policy Reporter or contact Scott (scott.dulitz@trialcard.com).
You can also register for Trialcard’s upcoming webinar: Leveraging Payer Intelligence in Patient Service Programs.
Read on for Scott’s insights.
Read more »
Four Unexpected Ways that the COVID-19 Medicaid Boom Will Affect PBM and Pharmacy Profits
The U.S. economy is in a medically-induced coma. Unemployment is soaring. Companies are teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. It is unclear when our lives will return to their pre-pandemic state.One thing seems apparent: As people lose jobs and health insurance, Medicaid enrollment will jump, perhaps by as much as 20% to 30%. This will have profound implications for the drug channel.
Today, I focus on how this increase will affect retail pharmacies and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Below, I review Medicaid enrollment trends, how states manage prescriptions, and the factors driving the coming boom in Medicaid enrollment.
As I explain, many (but not all) retail pharmacies will benefit from Medicaid growth. PBMs, however, will not fare as well. Read on and see if you agree.
Read more »In early May, Drug Channels Institute will host two live video webinars: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies (May 1) and Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers (May 8). CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP. DCI will donate 20% of all profits from these events to The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Join Me for Two Live Video Webinars (May 1 and May 8)
This May, join Dr. Adam J. Fein, CEO of Drug Channels Institute (DCI) and the author of Drug Channels, for two live video webinars:- May 1: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies (REPLAY) (12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET; $300 per site)
- May 8: Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers (REPLAY) (12:00 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. ET; $300 per site)
- Register for replays both events (May 1 and May 8) ($500 per site for both events)
You can purchase replays of these events using the links above.
Dr. Fein will help you navigate this challenging time in U.S. drug channels. These 75-minute live events will be broadcast via Zoom from the new Drug Channels Video studio. See details below.
You can sign up for either one of these crucial educational opportunities for only $300 per site per event. We are offering special pricing of $500 if you sign up for both events.
An unlimited number of people may watch at one location. However, we recognize that it may be difficult to gather your team in one location, so we are offering significant discounts for multiple viewing sites. Please contact Paula Fein (paula@drugchannelsinstitute.com) to get special pricing information for 5 or more locations. If you purchase access for multiple sites, we will contact you for the name and email address of a contact person at each location.
Read on for more information about the events.
To help people affected by COVID-19 and the caregivers who are supporting them , DCI will donate 20% of all profits from these events to The Center for Disaster Philanthropy’s COVID-19 Response Fund. This charity has earned a 4-star Charity Navigator rating and is a trusted philanthropic partner of Google, Coca Cola, UPS, Verizon, and many other organizations. The fund supports preparedness, containment, response, and recovery activities for those affected by the coronavirus and for the responders.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
We will help you and your team better understand key industry dynamics and how COVID-19 may alter the industry.
Dr. Fein will share DCI’s latest market data and trends from The 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Topics for Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: Retail & Specialty Pharmacies:
- The key trends for retail and specialty pharmacy markets
- The new normal for prescription demand
- How COVID-19 will change the U.S. payer mix
- Will the 340B program be disrupted?
- What’s next for specialty pharmacies
- The outlook for prescription profits
- The future for the drugstores’ front-end profits
- New opportunities for pharmacists as providers
- My reflections on life in a pandemic world and beyond
Topics for Industry Update and COVID-19 Impact: PBMs & Payers:
- The key trends for PBMs
- An update on the latest prescription data
- What the changing U.S. payer mix means for PBMs and insurers
- The outlook for benefit design
- PBMs' role in Managed Medicaid
- More on the 340B Drug Pricing Program
- Disruption to the buy-and-bill channel
- Promise and perils of vertical diversification
- Further reflections on life in a pandemic world
PLUS: Dr. Fein will take your questions during the event. CLICK HERE to submit questions to Dr. Fein in advance of the events.
IMPORTANT STUFF TO KNOW
- After you register, you will receive an email with the information you will need to access our live video webinar and add it to your calendar. We will also send you reminder emails one day and one hour before the event.
- Watch and listen via any device with a web browser (computer, iPad, iPhone/Android, etc.)
- We will use Zoom technology for this webinar. You will be able to watch the live video event with your browser or by downloading the Zoom client software/app.
- After each event, you’ll receive a downloadable PDF with the event slides.
- If your plans change and you can’t make it on May 1 or May 8, we will provide an opportunity to watch a replay of the live video events. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds.
- Pembroke Consulting clients receive free access to the webinar. Contact Tamra Feldman (admin@drugchannels.net) for details. We will automatically refund payments from anyone at a Pembroke client who purchases access using their corporate email account.
Introducing: Drug Channels Video!
In 2006, I launched the Drug Channels website to explore the economics of the U.S. reimbursement and distribution system for prescription pharmaceuticals. More than 30,000 professionals in the pharmaceutical and related industries rely on Drug Channels for timely analysis and provocative, fact-based insights.Today, I am pleased to announce the launch of our new delivery platform: Drug Channels Video!
You can look forward to:
- Information and analysis via our new YouTube channel (Never fear. I’ll still be publishing articles on the website every week.)
- Livestream video webinars (Stay tuned next week for an announcement about our first two events.)
- Private, live virtual keynotes and remote presentations (Email me to schedule a safe social distancing event for your team.)
- Online video courses (Coming later in 2020)
I hope you and your families stay safe and healthy in these challenging times. I look forward to reconnecting with you in person soon.
The Latest CMS Outlook for Drug Spending—And How COVID-19 Will Change It
ICYMI, the boffins at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released their new projections for U.S. National Health Expenditures (NHE). Unfortunately, the coronavirus almost immediately made these predictions obsolete.It’s still useful to analyze these forecasts for a pre-pandemic examination of U.S. healthcare spending. A few highlights of the 2024 outlook:
- Total U.S. spending on healthcare was projected to grow, from $3.6 trillion in 2018 to $5.0 trillion in 2024.
- Spending on hospitals and professional services was expected to grow by a combined $800 billion—more than 60% of CMS’s projected $1.4 trillion increase in U.S. healthcare spending. That’s consistent with historical trends.
- Net spending on outpatient prescription drugs in 2024 was projected to shrink to less than 9% of total U.S. spending. That would be its lowest level since 2000.
Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future. Feel free to add your own outlook in the comment section below.
Read more »
Drug Channels News Roundup, March 2020: Sanofi’s Gross-to-Net Bubble, Drug Pricing Findings, Amazon Replaces Express Scripts, and Drug Channels Video
First, let me say thank you to all of the healthcare workers who are putting themselves at risk during this crisis.As I noted last week, many of the crucial issues for our healthcare system will remain after we all get through this challenging period. In that regard, here’s a look at some noteworthy news from the past month:
- Sanofi discloses new data about insulin prices
- Excellent new academic research on list vs. net drug prices
- Three notable researchers overturn their earlier research on drug costs
- Amazon switches PBM vendors for some of its employees
P.S. Join the more than 9,000 followers of my daily links to neat stuff at @DrugChannels on Twitter. My recent tweets have highlighted such topics as:
- How GoodRx shares patients’ prescription data
- 2019 drug trend at Prime Therapeutics
- Controversy about the independent pharmacy market
- A new $5 generic mail order program, Medicare Part D reform
- Retail pharmacy’s future
- Job openings at Amazon
- Frozen cookie dough
- And much more!
Read more »
Expanding How CoverMyMeds Helps Patients Access Their Medications
Today’s guest post comes from David Holladay, President of CoverMyMeds and Austin Raper, Healthcare Writer at CoverMyMeds.First, David discusses how CoverMyMeds supports medication access. Then, Austin highlights key findings from CoverMyMeds’ 2020 Medication Access Report. This new report includes industry research, patient interviews, novel survey data, and strategies for boosting patients’ medication access.
Read on for David’s and Austin’s insights.
Read more »
Coronavirus Industry Impact Survey: Winners and Losers (Part 3)
Today is the final installment of our three-part investigation into the coronavirus’ ultimate impact on the drug channel.Below, I examine expectations about how the coronavirus will affect the public’s perception of various industry participants. We explore what our survey respondents said about:
- Pharmacies
- Pharmaceutical manufacturers
- Hospitals
- Wholesalers
- Pharmacy benefit managers and plan sponsors
- Insurance companies.
Read more »
Coronavirus Industry Impact: Manufacturers, Public Policy, and Payers (Part 2)
Today’s post is the second in our three-part investigation of the ultimate impact of the coronavirus on the drug channel. Here is a link to the first part of our survey analysis: Coronavirus Industry Impact: Patients, Pharmacies, and Wholesalers (Part 1). That article includes details about the methodology and respondents.Today, I review how people in the industry think coronavirus will affect:
- Federal drug pricing legislation
- FDA new drug approvals
- Public support for single-payer health insurance
- Third-party payment for prescription drugs
Tomorrow, I’ll examine survey responses that address how the coronavirus may affect the public’s perception of the industry’s participants. In the meantime, remember that every day is no pants day when you work from home.
Read more »
Coronavirus Industry Impact: Patients, Pharmacies, and Wholesalers (Part 1)
I hope you are staying healthy and are managing to navigate your work-at-home mandates.Last week, I tapped the collective insights of the Drug Channels’ audience. Nearly 700 readers shared their perspectives and projections for how the coronavirus pandemic could ultimately affect behavior, policy, and industry structure. Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond.
I will share the results over three articles this week:
- Today, in Part 1, I will review the responses relating to patient behavior, pharmacies, and wholesalers.
- In Part 2 (tomorrow), I’ll focus on expectations for pharmaceutical manufacturers and third-party payment.
- In Part 3 (Thursday), I’ll examine how the coronavirus may affect the public perception of the industry’s participants.
Read more »
Informa Connect-CBI’s 22nd Annual Medicaid and Government Pricing Congress
Informa Connect-CBI’s 22nd Annual Medicaid and Government Pricing CongressMay 19-21, 2020 | Orlando, FL
www.cbinet.com/medicaidandgovernment
Exclusive Offer: Register by April 10th and save $500* (mention promo code MDCDC5).
With a volatile healthcare system combined with an election year upon us, the stakes are incredibly high for life sciences manufacturers. Staying on the pulse of industry trends, policies and regulations has never been more critical. The 22nd Annual Medicaid and Government Pricing Congress delivers critical updates and industry best practices to effectively contract, report and comply with state and federal healthcare programs. Gain timely, up-to-the-minute insights on:
- State Invoicing and Disputes
- GTN Models
- Innovative Contracting Strategies
- State Price Transparency and Reporting Requirements
- 340B Oversight and Compliance
- Preparing, Negotiating and Implementing FSS Contracts
- Bona Fide Service Fees and FMV
- And many other critical topics
The 2020 agenda features 75+ speakers and 50+ sessions customizable by company type and size, as well as 10 hours of dedicated networking. Bio/pharma, regulatory and government experts representing HHS, Pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, Sobi, Maryland Department of Health, BMS, Jazz, Novartis, Amneal, J&J, Sunovion, Gilead, VA, Granard, Insmed, UCB, Alnylam, Louisiana Department of Health, AstraZeneca, CMS, CSL Behring, Astellas, Lilly, Oklahoma Healthcare Authority, Theravance, Indivior, Sandoz, Alvogen, Takeda, OIG, AMAG, Aimmune, Exelixis, South Dakota Department of Healthcare Services, Regeneron, Sun Pharma, Teva and many others are set to drive the dynamic dialogue.
Drug Channels readers can register today and use promo code MDCDC5 to save $500.
*Discount offer valid through 4/10/2020; applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, categories, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on workshop-only or non-profit registrations.
The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.
Three Things to Look for in a Patient Assistance Program
Today’s guest post comes from Rob Brown, Vice President and General Manager of RxCrossroads by McKesson and Biologics by McKesson.Rob discusses the importance of access, adherence, and affordability for specialty therapy patients who are uninsured, underinsured, or low-income. He describes three criteria companies should use to evaluate patient assistance program solutions.
Click here to learn more about program pharmacy solutions for biopharma from RxCrossroads by McKesson.
Read on for Rob’s insights.
Read more »
The Drug Channels Coronavirus Industry Impact Survey
It’s a unique and troubling time. We are all of course concerned about the coronavirus and its disruption to our personal and professional lives.I presume that life will return to normal later this year. But what happens then? Will there be long-term changes to how the drug channel operates? Will we see permanent changes in behavior, policy, and industry structure?
To answer these questions, I want to tap the collective insights of Drug Channels’ 30,000+ audience.
This survey should take 10 minutes or less. I will provide a full review of the results next week on Drug Channels. The survey will close on March 20.
You can respond anonymously. Any information you provide will be kept confidential. Per Drug Channels' long-standing policy, I never publish, release, or disclose any personal data without your permission.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights.
Regards,
Adam
Informa Connect-CBI’s Patient Support Services Congress
RESCHEDULED: This event has been rescheduled for November 11-13, 2020. Click here to learn more.Informa Connect-CBI’s Patient Support Services Congress
June 16-18, 2020 | The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village | Princeton, NJ
www.informaconnect.com/patient-support-services-congress
Informa Connect-CBI’s Patient Support Services Congress is a comprehensive meeting for insightful and engaging dialogue around navigating compliance hurdles while strengthening and innovating patient-oriented programs.
Visit www.informaconnect.com/patient-support-services-congress for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $500 off the standard registration rate when they use code BNP667*.
Download the agenda here and see in-depth coverage on industry trends and next-generation patient services, such as:
- Critical Regulatory Updates and Effective Strategies for Monitoring & Oversight
- Novel Approaches to Services, Program Architecture and Operational Management
- The pros and cons of different support service models
- Measuring the Success of Patient Support Programs
- Innovation, AI, Changing Distribution Models and Market Mergers
- Transparency with Charitable Organizations
Choose from Two In-Depth Tracks
- Legal and Compliance
- Innovation and Operations
- Summit A: Patient Adherence – Educate, Engage and Collaborate to Enhance Outcomes
- Summit B: Case Management for Novel and Innovative Therapies
- Summit C: Strategic Planning for Product Launch
- Summit D: Primer Course for Partnering with Patients
Leading Perspectives from Industry Trendsetters:
- Robert Britting, Director, Patient Services and Strategic Solutions, Teva Pharmaceuticals
- Stella Vnook, Chief Executive Officer, Diverse Biotech
- Katherine Chaurette, Vice President healthcare Law and Compliance, Blueprint Medicines
- Kimberly Goldberg, Director, U.S Data Privacy Counsel, Novartis
- Imtiaz Hussain, Senior Director, Patient Services, Bayer
- Cory Potomis, Associate Director, Ethics & Compliance Operations, Novo Nordisk, Inc.
- And so many more!
Visit www.informaconnect.com/patient-support-services-congress for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $500 off the standard registration rate when they use code BNP667*.
*Offer applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, category rates, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on workshop only or academic/non-profit registrations.
The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.
NEW: The 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers
I am pleased to announce our new 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, available for purchase and immediate download.- Click here to download a free report overview (including the Table of Contents and a List of Exhibits)
The 2020 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers is a truly unique resource. With 203 proprietary charts, exhibits, and data tables, this 11th edition provides a comprehensive, fact-based, and non-partisan tool for understanding the entire U.S. drug pricing, reimbursement, and dispensing system.
The full document clocks in at 374 pages. I can safely say there is nothing else available that comes close to this report.
The chart below illustrates the depth and breadth of the 2020 edition. The numbers indicate the report chapter that corresponds to, explains, and analyzes each channel flow.
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Below, you can read more info and some behind-the-scenes tidbits.
P.S. If you would like to pay by corporate purchase order or check, please email Tamra Feldman. If you preordered the report, you should have already received an email with download instructions. Please contact us if you did not receive the email.
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Weekly FDA COVID-19 update
The agency continues to remain busy overseeing and approving potential treatments and tests for the virus behind the global pandemic.
ThoughtSphere lands patent for clinical trial data technology
The data management solution is designed to help sponsors and CROs manage data more effectively, increasing cost efficiency and effectiveness.
People on the Move: May 2020
This monthâs new hires and promotions include executive appointments at Advarra, Eversana, Signant Health, Endpoint Clinical and other companies.
Berg, Boehringer Ingelheim partner on inflammatory disease research
The research collaboration will seek to identify candidate biomarkers for a group of inflammatory conditions, using AI and other advanced technology.
Medidata analysis shows COVID-19 impact on trials
The companyâs global analysis from thousands of studies and sites indicates dramatic shifts in enrollment across several countries since the pandemic began.
Pharmaseal adds eTMF document storage to trial platform
The company has incorporated electronic trial master file document storage capabilities to its Engility clinical trial management platform.
Advarra purchases IRBco
The institutional review board and research technology solutions provider has acquired IRBco to expand its reach and presence in North America.
ERT launches patient-administered ECG assessment
The technology enables sponsors to continue gathering cardiac data for clinical trials without interruption or risk to patient safety.
3M Drug Delivery Systems relaunches as Kindeva Drug Delivery
The launch of the renamed, newly independent company follows its acquisition by Altaris Capital Partners.
Research collaboration drives to accelerate COVID-19 solutions
Led by Medable, the multi-company effort is geared toward ramping up development of treatments, diagnostics and other solutions for the pandemic-causing virus.
CDISC launches COVID-19 research standards task force
The group will work to rapidly develop guidance on standardizing COVID-19 research data, with the help of several participating member companies.
Almac Discovery collaborates with Merck on DUB targets
The partnership will focus on generating novel small-molecule inhibitors against specific DUB targets for treatment of a range of diseases.