Drug Channels delivers timely analysis and provocative opinions from Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., the country's foremost expert on pharmaceutical economics and the drug distribution system. Drug Channels reaches an engaged, loyal and growing audience of more than 100,000 subscribers and followers. Learn more...
Today’s guest post comes from Akeel Williams, VP of Strategy and Operations, Pharma Manufacturer Solutions at GoodRx
Akeel provides an overview of GoodRx’s Pharma Manufacturer Solutions business. He describes how GoodRx leverages its consumer reach to help biopharma companies boost awareness and utilization of manufacturers’ copay assistance programs.
The boom in copay accumulators and maximizers has radically shifted payers’ views on manufacturers’ copay support programs for specialty drugs.
Below, I review a new survey of commercial plan sponsors and contrast the findings to a comparable survey from 2018. As you will see, plan sponsors now perceive manufacturers’ copay support patient assistance programs primarily as a source of funding for their own plans. This change in perspective has overtaken plan sponsors’ traditional views that copay programs disrupt formularies.
The accumulator/maximizer boom may soon start to slow. States are banning accumulators, the Medicaid accumulator rule has been blocked, and manufacturers are altering their copay programs. Plan sponsors may want to reconsider their beliefs before getting too comfortable with their copay money grab.
Join Dr. Fein as he helps you and your team stay on top of the latest trends, market data, and strategies for specialty drugs. He will draw from exclusive information found in DCI’s industry economic reports.
During the event, Dr. Fein will cover a wide range of topics, including:
Specialty drugs in pharmacy vs. medical benefits
How plan sponsors are managing specialty benefits
Distribution channels to providers, pharmacies, and patients
DCI’s latest data on the specialty market position of distributors, pharmacies, and PBMs
The latest on copay accumulators and maximizers
Specialty carve-out and alternative funding programs
Buy-and-bill trends
The 340B Drug Pricing Program and specialty drugs
Drug pricing controversies and policy debates
And more!
PLUS: During the webinar, Dr. Fein will give participants an opportunity to unmute themselves and ask live questions.
As always, Dr. Fein will clearly distinguish his opinions and interpretations from the objective facts and data.
Read on for full details on pricing and registration.
I can’t recall any period in my life when our country has been so divided and polarized. Through the Drug Channels Institute, I strive to provide you with fact-based and balanced coverage—along with links to source materials so you can make up your own mind.
So before you launch your July 4 festivities and/or a civil war, Drug Channels humbly offers some data fireworks for our troubled nation:
More evidence of slow growth in drug spending for 2021
Fresh data on skyrocketing PBM formulary exclusions
Employers still hoarding rebates
Pharmacy pricing in the era of GoodRx
Plus, Dr. Glaucomflecken continues his humorous assault on insurance prior authorizations.
Today’s guest post comes from Logan Melchione, Senior Director of Account Management at Paysign.
Logan describes how some patient affordability vendors capture funds that were intended for patients. She then provides manufacturers with ideas to better manage and oversee copay, bridge, and voucher programs.
In the video below, I discuss how generic drug pricing and the rise of patient-paid, discount card prescriptions pose a risk to pharmacy benefit plans and the PBM business. I also highlight the odd relationship between Prime Therapeutics, Amazon Pharmacy, Express Scripts, and five Blues plans.
The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) will host the NASP 2022 Annual Meeting & Expo September 19-22. NASP will celebrate their 10th Anniversary and welcome attendees to a new conference venue – the gorgeous Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, located in Orlando, Florida.
The conference agenda is jam-packed and offers something for everyone, whether you are new to the industry or a seasoned expert.
Conference highlights include:
40+ unique educational sessions organized into four dynamic tracks to help you focus on what is most important to you
Continuing education credits for pharmacists, nurses, and technicians
THREE KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS
Montel Williams, an Emmy Award winner, decorated former naval officer, inspirational speaker, author, entrepreneur, multiple sclerosis patient and advocate for patients worldwide
Justin Patton, executive coach, will lead the conference in challenging attendees to Reimagine What’s Possible
Monica Pearson, distinguished journalist and humanitarian, and the first woman and first minority to anchor the daily evening news in Atlanta, Georgia
Six pre-conference workshops: Accreditation Workshop (1/2 day), Certified Specialty Pharmacist (CSP) Exam Preparation Course, Home Infusion Workshop (1/2 day), Hospital/Health Systems Specialty Pharmacy Workshop, Specialty Pharmacy Law Conference, and Technology Day Workshop (additional fee required for workshops)
Dynamic Exhibit Hall featuring exhibitors representing all specialty pharmacy industry stakeholders
The ever-popular Women in Specialty Pharmacy Luncheon, featuring motivational keynote speaker Amelia Rose Earhart (additional fee required)
Educate to Cultivate Networking Event -- reconnect with industry colleagues and friends over lunch and learn more about Florida’s oldest industry and time-honored tradition, the authentic and skilled art of cigar rolling (additional fee required)
CE satellite symposia
Poster presentations and author discussions
NASP Industry Awards presentations
The NASP Ron Bookman Scholarship Awards
Direct interaction with industry thought leaders and experts
The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees. To find out how you can promote an event on Drug Channels, please contact Paula Fein(paula@drugchannels.net).
Today’s guest post comes from Shawn Seamans, Chief Commercial Officer at CoverMyMeds.
Shawn discusses how technology can be combined with human intervention to better help patients access, afford, and adhere to their therapies. He then describes how three patients benefited from support solutions.
For more information about how CoverMyMeds’ solutions can support the patient journey for your brand, visit their digital commercialization experience.
Last week, the authors of a new JAMA study claimed that “prices for new drugs are skyrocketing.” Their research, along with a simultaneously released New York Times op-ed, received widespread media coverage. Links below.
But as I explain, the study’s headline conclusion is highly misleading. The authors obscure the real story with mathematical sleight-of-hand that misrepresents the underlying data and overlooks the true nature of today’s pharmaceutical innovations.
Most notably, the authors discount the fact that the most expensive new drugs treat ultra-rare conditions affecting extraordinarily small patient populations. Their policy recommendations would therefore have a devastating impact on these patients and their hope for treatments and cures.
As Nobel prize winner Ronald Coase observed: “If you torture the data long enough, it will confess to anything.” Read on and consider what the data are really saying.
Don’t miss the IDN & Bio/Pharma Partnering Summit coming up this summer in Philadelphia, where you'll be part of the important discussions on how to best optimize strategic partnerships to improve patient access and outcomes. This event showcases novel case studies and in-depth sessions that focus on innovative partnership models that will aid in delivering enhanced value, manageable costs and high-quality results.
Visit www.informaconnect.com/IDN for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save 10% off when they use code 22DRCH10 and register prior to June 31, 2022.*
The 2022 format includes 2 days of in-person programming, plus a virtual offering of select sessions and recorded presentations available on-demand for 12 months following the conference. Both the in-person and virtual options will include networking opportunities to connect with industry peers and colleagues.
The Summit features coverage on the hottest topics impacting you today, from speakers representing Atrium Health, Bayer, Cone Health, CSL Behring, Fairview Health Services, Nebraska Medicine, NYU Langone Health System, Pfizer, Quil Health, Tempus Labs, TG Therapeutics, University of California, Davis, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Pharmacy, University of Pennsylvania Health System, Vanderbilt Specialty Pharmacy and Vifor Pharma.
View the agenda to see the complete picture – the program, speakers, and more!
Visit www.informaconnect.com/IDN for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save 10% off when they use code 22DRCH10 and register prior to June 31, 2022.*
*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates or other offers. Other restrictions may apply.
The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees. To find out how you can promote an event on Drug Channels, please contact Paula Fein(paula@drugchannels.net).
Time for an update to the Drug Channels Institute (DCI) annual analysis of pharmacist salaries and employment.
The retail pharmacy shakeout affected 2021 pharmacist employment. We found that retail pharmacies and drugstores employed fewer pharmacists, while hospitals and outpatient centers continued to add positions. As a result, the share of pharmacists who work in non-retail practice settings reached a new high.
What’s more, average base salaries for retail pharmacists dropped for the second year, while salaries continued to rise for pharmacists employed by hospitals, physician offices, and other non-retail settings. Full salary data below for your enjoyment or sorrow.
As expected, the past few years have been highly challenging for retail-employed pharmacists. Expect further declines as the shakeout continues.
