How Express Scripts Plans to Disrupt the Emerging Cell and Gene Therapy Channel (rerun)

This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts before the holidays. Click here to see the original post and comments from October 2019. Commercial strategies for the new cell and gene therapies will be a hot topic in the coming years. Revisit this article for a look at how one major insurer / PBM / specialty pharmacy is attempting to pre-disrupt the channel.

Express Scripts is on a roll. ICYMI, it will be taking over Prime Therapeutics' formulary contracting and pharmacy network management. Manufacturer rebates will grow, pharmacy margins will be under more pressure, and the gross-to-net bubble will inflate. 

Get ready for more volatility with the DRUG CHANNELS OUTLOOK: WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH IN 2020. During last week's event, I even discussed PBM consolidation scenarios for sub-scale players like Prime. Click here to hear what you missed and download the slides.

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Cell and gene therapies are poised to transform the treatment of many serious and previously untreatable conditions.

As this new market develops, payers and PBMs are laying the groundwork for disruptive channel models. Below, I examine how Cigna’s Express Scripts business has begun to shape this channel’s development. Its new models show the promise of private market innovation for the financing and commercialization of novel therapies.

These approaches will also shake up existing channels. If payers rub this magic lamp, these innovative channel models would: 1) enhance the role of the vertically-integrated insurer/PBM/pharmacy companies, 2) reduce or eliminate buy-and-bill by providers, and 3) minimize the role of the largest wholesalers. Consider the examples below to be early warnings of change.

FYI: Today’s post is an excerpt from Chapter 6 of our new 2019–20 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors.

Employers Slowly Warm to Point-of-Sale Rebates—But Must Move Faster for Insulin (rerun)

This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts before the holidays. Click here to see the original post and comments from September 2019. It’s a timely rerun, given rumors that the Senate Finance Committee's Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act may add a provision requiring rebates on insulin to be passed along to seniors at the pharmacy counter. Until then, the gross-to-net bubble is alive and well.

P.S. Yesterday, I posted my $0.02 on the new importation guidance and proposal on @DrugChannels. You can read them here, here, and here.

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Did you miss our DRUG CHANNELS OUTLOOK: WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH IN 2020 webinar? Click here to watch a replay of my 75-minute webinar (including the Q&A). You will also be able to download the slides.

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Third-party payers' benefit designs remain a significant barrier to addressing drug costs. Many continue to use the ever-growing rebate dollars of the gross-to-net bubble to offset overall plan costs rather than reducing patient’s out-of-pocket spending.

Point-of-sale (POS) rebates are one possible benefit design solution. POS rebates directly share with patients the discounts that PBMs negotiate with manufacturers.

A recent survey of large employers by the National Business Group on Health (NBGH) suggests this change may be coming. The survey found that about one in five large employers is using point-of-sale (POS) rebates in their pharmacy benefit plans. The survey found that a further 40% of employers are considering POS rebates for 2021 and 2022.

Pharmaceuticals are the only part of the U.S. healthcare system where the difference between list and net prices is monetized as rebates and redistributed by intermediaries to payers. But we’ve seen that moving to a world without rebates may not be possible, given the drug channel’s entrenched interests and payers’ established economics.

POS rebates may therefore be our most realistic chance for addressing the drug costs of patients trapped in the gross-to-net bubble. Commercial payers and Congress (for Medicare Part D) should get started ASAP with POS rebates for insulin—a highly rebated and massively distorted therapeutic category.

A CVS Lawsuit Uncovers Three Surprising Revelations about Amazon’s PillPack Strategy (rerun)

This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts before the holidays. Click here to see the original post and comments from June 2019.

This article foreshadowed last week’s announcement about PillPack and Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts. More to come from Amazon, but likely less than some have projected.

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Did you miss our DRUG CHANNELS OUTLOOK: WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH IN 2020 webinar? Click here to watch a replay of my 75-minute webinar (including the Q&A). You will also be able to download the slides.

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Last week, a judge in Rhode Island issued a decision in CVS Pharmacy, Inc. v. John Lavin. Briefly: CVS had sued Lavin, who had been a senior vice president responsible for CVS Caremark's retail network contracting. Lavin had left CVS to work for Amazon’s PillPack business. CVS successfully argued that Lavin had violated the terms of his non-compete agreement

Below, you’ll find links for the public documents in the case.

I also highlight three surprising disclosures that arose in the decision. These shed light on PillPack’s contracting strategy with payers, its not-quite-disruptive plans for pharmacy benefit management, and its alleged attempts to get retail pharmacy reimbursement rates.

We’re all expecting Jeff Bezos to pull a rabbit out of his hat, but Amazon’s disruption may be different—and take longer—than many people expect.

Here’s How PBMs and Specialty Pharmacies Snag Super-Size Profits from the 340B Program (rerun)

This week, I’m rerunning some popular posts before the holidays. Click here to see the original post and comments from August 2019.

Don’t expect any imminent changes to this situation. My 340B outlook for 2020: Status quo + 25%.

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Did you miss our DRUG CHANNELS OUTLOOK: WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH IN 2020 webinar? Click here to watch a replay of my 75-minute webinar (including the Q&A). You will also be able to download the slides.

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Last week, I documented how the biggest independent and PBM-owned specialty pharmacies participate as contract pharmacies within the 340B program. These specialty pharmacies are owned by CVS Health, Cigna (Express Scripts), OptumRx (UnitedHealth Group), Walgreens Boots Alliance/Prime Therapeutics, and Diplomat Pharmacy.

Today, let’s follow the prescription dollar to expose how specialty pharmacies and covered entities profit from 340B prescriptions. We rely on confidential disclosures made to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).

You’ll see the indisputable prescription math that permits large specialty pharmacies to share in the 340B discounts that covered entities earn. These pharmacies’ profits can be $1,000 per prescription—far exceeding their typical profits from dispensing a third-party-paid prescription.

No wonder PBMs and specialty pharmacies are racing to become 340B contract pharmacies!

For years, hospitals and their lobbyists have been claiming that discounts from the 340B program support care for low-income and uninsured patients. What they don’t say: These discounts are also supporting some of the largest public companies in the U.S.

CBI’s 14th Hubs and SPP Model Optimization Summit

CBI’s 14th Hubs and SPP Model Optimization Summit
February 24-26, 2020 | Loews Philadelphia Hotel | Philadelphia, PA
http://www.cbinet.com/Hubs

Over 1,600 leaders in Patient Access, Brand Management, Reimbursement and Specialty Distribution have benefited from CBI’s Hub and SPP Model Optimization conference series. This flagship event provides insight from key stakeholders including manufacturers, specialty pharmacies, hubs, payers, PBMs, physicians and more. Join your peers at this timely meeting as you prepare to launch, transition or reboot your corporate or product approach to hub services and hear cutting-edge advances driving an all-encompassing and state-of-the-art hub.

Visit www.cbinet.com/Hubs for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard registration rate when they use code SFB765*.

New Powerful Programming for 2020!

• Two Inclusive Summits:
• Compliant Patient Assistance and Programs
• Building Your Hub — Smart Launch Strategies and Leading Commercialization Frameworks
• Three In-depth Workshops:
• Access and Affordability — Copay Accumulators Impact on Patients and Manufacturers
• Specialty Pharmacy/Manufacturer Contract and Service Compliance
• Field Reimbursement Teams — Join the Mission to Overcome Patient Access Barriers through Reimbursement Support
• Three Tracks of Tailored Content:
• Leverage Specialty Data for Hub Efficiency and Value
• Hub Model Optimization to Streamline and enhance Processes
• Reimbursement and Access Considerations for Innovative Therapies

Featured Speakers include:

• Eric D. Hargan, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• Fran Castellow, MSEd, President, Operations, Patient Advocate Foundation
• Greg Shapiro, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Chief of Affirmative Civil Enforcement Unit, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts
• Kelly Allison, Vice President of Patient Access, Rare Disease, Horizon Therapeutics
• Elizabeth Anderson, Vice President, Healthcare, Technology & Distribution, Evercore ISI
• Marc Appel, CEO, Orange Grove Bio
• Shannon Ashmon, MBA, Senior Manager, Oncology Access and Reimbursement, Eisai US
• Tami Carten, Executive Director, Market Access, Braeburn
• Dana Dickens, Director, Specialty Pharmacy Channel, Sobi
• Bill Goodson, Director Patient Access and Reimbursement Services, Eisai US
• Noah Holmes, Senior Director, Patient Services, Relypsa
• Casey Horton, CFE, Director, Life Sciences Governance Risk Management and Compliance, Navigant
• Kristyn Klear, Senior Manager, Access, Eisai US
• Esther Langer, Director, Trade and Distribution Operations, Sobi
• And more!

REGISTER TODAY!

Visit www.cbinet.com/Hubs for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard registration rate when they use code SFB765*.

*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.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Insurers + PBMs + Specialty Pharmacies + Providers: Will Vertical Consolidation Disrupt Drug Channels in 2020?

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?

I’ll be discussing vertical consolidation and a range of other hot topics tomorrow in my exclusive live webinar: DRUG CHANNELS OUTLOOK: WHAT YOU NEED TO WATCH IN 2020. I hope you can join me. If you register but can't make it this Friday, you'll receive a link to watch a replay.

Latest CMS Data: Drug Spending is Not Skyrocketing; Hospitals and Physicians Dominate Healthcare Costs

Last week, the econowonks at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2018 National Health Expenditure (NHE) data, which measures all U.S. spending on healthcare. Links below.

Some drug spending highlights:

• For 2018, spending on outpatient prescription drugs grew by 2.5%—below the spending growth rate on hospitals, physician services, and overall national healthcare costs. 

• CMS significantly lowered its previously reported drug spending figures by billions after incorporating new data on manufacturers’ rebates. 

These latest CMS data also highlight why the policy debate over healthcare spending is so unbalanced. Too many people—including politicians, journalists, and a certain billionaire—have committed to a false narrative of “skyrocketing” drug spending. I must again note that demonizing pharmaceuticals as the prime driver of U.S. healthcare spending is simply wrong, as you will see below.

Unfortunately, the share and amount that Americans are forced to pay of prescription drug spending is much greater than that of other healthcare services. This circumstance derives from benefit designs, not drug prices. See what you think in our pretty charts below.

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Drug Channels Institute will host an exclusive live webinar, Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020, on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Get ready for what will certainly be another year of change for U.S. healthcare. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP.

If you register but can't make it this Friday, you'll receive a link to watch the replay.

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sPCMA Business Forum 2020

sPCMA Business Forum
March 16 & 17, 2020
Hilton Bonnet Creek | Orlando, FL
Register Today!

The sPCMA Business Forum will return to the Hilton Bonnet Creek in Orlando, FL on March 16 & 17, 2020.

Senior executives and decision makers from PBMs, health plans and their affiliate specialty pharmacies will come together at the sPCMA Business Forum to collaborate with drug and biotech manufacturers and other important business partners. The event offers invaluable networking and education for individuals and companies involved in the specialty pharmacy supply chain. Registration for the conference is now open online.

Register Today!

Speakers are among the specialty pharmacy industry’s top thought leaders, influencers, and executives. View highlights from last year or learn more about this conference on the sPCMA Business Forum website!

Contact PCMA

Please contact Kayla Firriolo (kfirriolo@pcmanet.org) with questions or to request further information.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Has Physician Specialty Dispensing Peaked—And Should They Blame PBMs?

Everyone wants to be a specialty pharmacy—but it’s getting harder to compete.

Consider the boom in pharmacies operated by physician practices. The growth in oral and patient self-injectable specialty drugs has encouraged physicians to dispense these products from their offices and clinics. For example, almost half of all oncology practices now dispense specialty drugs to their patients.

But as we show below, the share of oncology practices dispensing prescriptions has declined for the first time in at least six years. I suspect that we are at a turning point in the growth of physician practice dispensing.

As I explain below, this development reflects how PBMs and their plan sponsor clients are managing specialty channels.

PBMs offer financial carrots that entice plan sponsor to shift prescriptions into PBM-owned specialty pharmacies. This dynamic creates novel competitive conflicts between historically separate drug channel participants. Meanwhile, physicians are learning the perils of competing with vertically-integrated channel organizations.

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Drug Channels Institute will host an exclusive live webinar, Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020, on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Get ready for what will certainly be another year of change for U.S. healthcare. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP.

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The State of Retail Pharmacy: Independent Pharmacy Economics Stabilize—But Dropping, Owner Salaries Are

Time for Drug Channels’ exclusive look at independent pharmacy owners’ business economics. For Episode XI of our annual review, we again draw upon the latest data from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Digest, Sponsored by Cardinal Health. Here's the press release for the recently released 2019 edition.

Below, I update our estimates of pharmacy economics and margins. Our analysis reveals that profits per prescription in 2018 were unchanged from the 2017 figures. However, the average pharmacy in the NCPA sample filled fewer prescriptions, causing the average pharmacy owner’s salary to decline for the fifth consecutive year.

Read on for our look at pharmacy profits and my comments on the competitive dynamics of retail pharmacy. How many independents will survive? Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.

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Drug Channels Institute will host an exclusive live webinar, Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020, on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Get ready for what will certainly be another year of change for U.S. healthcare. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP.

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PAP 2020 - 21st Annual Patient Assistance & Access Programs

PAP 2020 - 21st Annual Patient Assistance & Access Programs
March 23-25, 2020 | Baltimore, MD
www.cbinet.com/pap

PAP 2020, one of the nation's largest and most impactful patient access events returns to Baltimore for the 21st year! 2020 features powerful programming and compelling content designed to navigate complexities and break through barriers to ensure prescription access and affordability. Take this opportunity to exchange techniques for successful partnering, gain key industry trends in PAPs and connect personal and professional goals to accelerate success.

Visit www.cbinet.com/pap for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers from life science manufacturers will save $400 off the standard rate when they use code MZZ849 and register prior to December 27th.*

The complete agenda and faculty list will be coming soon, and features coverage on the hottest topics that matter most:

• Examine the intersection of patient access and shifts in healthcare legislation
• Identify emerging best practices and industry trends in free drug programs
• Assess the latest technology innovations to advance PAPs and drive efficiencies
• Navigate compliance risks as greater government oversight focuses on patient support and copay programs
• Explore advocate resources for better navigation of patient pathways and strategies to address medication access barriers
• Foster collaboration across stakeholders to speed patient access and manage costs
• Realize the current benefits and challenges of patient assistance from the patient perspective

KEYNOTE ANNOUNCEMENT: CBI is excited to welcome Ezekiel J. Emanuel, M.D., Ph.D., Vice Provost, Global Initiatives, the Diane v.S. Levy and Robert M. Levy University Professor, and Chair of the Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania as our opening keynote speaker addressing pending health policy changes and the impact on patient affordability and access. Dr. Emanuel currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Director General of the WHO and is considered one of the leading practitioners shaping the future of healthcare, with a long record of experience at the top levels of policy including special advisor for health policy to the White House Office of Management and Budget from January 2009 to January 2011.

The conference faculty boasts 50+ presenters from Acceleron Pharma, AIDS Institute, Anne Arundel Medical Center, Avalere Health, Bausch Health, Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, Carilion Clinic, Community Volunteers in Medicine, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Dermira, Eisai, GSK, Health Alliance for the Uninsured, HealthWell Foundation, J&J, LEO Pharma, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, McKesson Pharmacy, MorphoSys US Inc, National Health Council, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, PAN Foundation, Patient Advocate Foundation, Pfizer, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Sidley Austin LLP, SK Life Science Inc, Sobi, The National Association of Free & Charitable Clinics, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, UC Health, UCB, UnityPoint Health, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Virginia Health Care Foundation and many more.

Visit www.cbinet.com/pap for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers from life science manufacturers will save $400 off the standard rate when they use code MZZ849 and register prior to December 27th.*

CBI will see you there!

*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates, clinic/hospital rates, non-profit rates other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

CBI’s Patient Registries, Real World Evidence and HEOR

CBI’s Patient Registries, Real World Evidence and HEOR
January 27-28, 2020 | Miami, FL
www.cbinet.com/RWE

Kick off 2020 in Miami at the Patient Registries, Real World Evidence and HEOR Summit! Come together with colleagues from across the industry to discuss the latest innovations and best practices for collecting, analyzing and utilizing patient data.

Visit www.cbinet.com/RWE for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard rate when they use code ZUS222 and register prior to December 13, 2019.*

With three dedicated tracks – Patient Registries, RWE and HEOR – the conference focuses on common goals for participants centered on using data to improve treatment and outcomes. Sign up to see the agenda here.

Experts from Jazz Pharmaceuticals, AHRQ, Pfizer, Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Amicus Therapeutics, Novartis, NORD, EMD Serono, Biogen, Global Healthy Living Foundation, AstraZeneca, Stamford Health, Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Global Genes, Geisinger, BeiGene, Takeda Canada, Bridge the Gap - SYNGAP Education and Research Foundation and more will lead robust discussions on topics such as:

• The Evolving Industry Landscape and the Role of Real World Evidence in Optimizing Market Access and Patient Outcomes
• Getting to High-Quality Real-World Data and Applying it to RWE
• Navigate Health Data Governance to Improve Treatments and Outcomes
• Bringing Data Back to Patients — Empowering Patients through Data Sharing
• Global Perspective and Outlook on Registries and RWE
• Emerging Ethical and Compliance Issues in RWD-Driven Research
• Harmonization of Outcomes Measures for More Patient-Centric Care
• Leverage Machine Learning and New Technologies to Enhance RWE Generation and Outcomes Research
• And much more!

Visit www.cbinet.com/RWE for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard rate when they use code ZUS222 and register prior to December 13, 2019.*

CBI will see you there!

*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rate or non-profit rates. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Drug Channels News Roundup, November 2019: Amazon Pharmacy, JAMA 340B Redux, Diplomat, Hospital-Physician Integration, and the FDA

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Before you stretch your stomach, stretch your mind with some food for thought. In this issue:

• Here comes Amazon Pharmacy

• OIG Confirms it: the JAMA 340B paper is wrong

• Diplomat gets close to the edge

• Unfortunately unsurprising news about hospital-physician integration

Plus, a timely new campaign from the FDA.

P.S. Join the more than 8,400 people who follow @DrugChannels on Twitter. My recent tweets have highlighted biosimilars, telehealth, the Walgreens LBO, ICER, hospital consolidation, H.R.3 and biotech, reference pricing for U.S. healthcare spending, global channels overlord Stefano Pessina, and Canadians.

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Drug Channels Institute will host an exclusive live webinar, Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020, on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Get ready for what will certainly be another year of change for U.S. healthcare. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP.

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Part B Update: Hospitals Displacing Physicians, Amid Slow Growth in Drug Prices

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), the independent agency that advises Congress on the Medicare program, recently released its June 2019 Data Book: Health Care Spending and the Medicare Program.

This year’s report provides the latest details about the ongoing disruption of the buy-and-bill market in Medicare Part B. As you will see below:

• Physician offices account for a diminishing share of Part B spending, though absolute spending at these sites continues to grow. 

• Hospital outpatient settings have been crowding out physician offices. Hospital outpatient departments now account for more than 40% of Part B spending—and an even greater share for oncology products.

What's more, Part B spending has grown much faster than drug prices. The prices paid by Medicare for the top 10 Part B drugs have been growing at low- to mid-single digit rates. Spending has grown due to more beneficiaries and the adoption of newer, higher-priced therapies.

The Trump administration has signaled that it wants Medicare to pay less for Part B drugs. Its primary proposals focus on comparisons to prices paid by other countries. These analyses conveniently overlook the lower drug prices that manufacturers provide to the Medicaid program and 340B hospitals.

It looks like 2020 will not be relaxing times for the buy-and-bill channel.

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Drug Channels Institute will host an exclusive live webinar, Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020, on Friday, December 13, 2019, from 12 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Get ready for what will certainly be another year of change for U.S. healthcare. CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND SIGN UP.

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CBI's 15th Annual Life Sciences Trade and Channel Strategies

CBI’s 15th Annual Life Sciences Trade and Channel Strategies
December 3-5, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA
www.cbinet.com/trade

Hit the ground running in 2020 by closing out the year at Trade and Channel 2019! The life science industry's foremost thought-leaders will come together on December 3-5 to unravel the complexities of the distribution channel, navigate high-impact topics transforming trade and benchmark winning pharmacy and distribution frameworks.

Visit www.cbinet.com/trade for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $200 off the standard rate when they use code UTC356 and register prior to November 29th.*

You can download the complete agenda here.

Can't Miss Keynotes include:

• Drug Channels Update - Things to Watch in 2020
  Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., CEO, Drug Channels Institute
• Fireside Chat - Candid Conversation with an Industry Pioneer
  Bill Roth, Founding Partner, Blue Fin Group
• Healthcare Policy Address - Current State of Regulatory Reform Driving Innovation and Access
  Eric D. Hargan, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• How the New Wave of Algorithmic Care Will Disrupt Your Business
  Zen Chu, Investor, PillPack; Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Innovation, MIT Sloan School of Management and Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology

In-Depth Summits, Interactive Workshops and Tailored Tracks focusing on:

• New Product Launch Planning
• Mitigate Compliance Risk in Manufacturer and Specialty Pharmacy Contracts
• Digital and Blockchain Technology Adoption and Implementation
• Retail and POS Contracting
• Forward-Thinking Strategies for Specialty Generics and Biosimilars
• 340B - Best Practices to Improve Compliance and Manage Drug Diversion
• Specialty Channel Network Design and Contracting
• Market Access, Patient Support and Hub Services Optimization
• Next-Gen Specialty Product Data Strategies

Download the agenda to plan your sessions and prepare to return to the office armed with critical updates and valuable takeaways.

Visit www.cbinet.com/trade for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $200 off the standard rate when they use code UTC356 and register prior to November 29th.*

CBI will see you there!

*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates, clinic/hospital rates, non-profit rates other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020 (A Drug Channels Institute Live Webinar)

On December 13 at 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. ET, Drug Channels Institute (DCI) will host an exclusive new webinar: Drug Channels Outlook: What You Need to Watch in 2020. Join Dr. Adam J. Fein, CEO of DCI and the author of Drug Channels, for this one hour, live event as he helps you understand and get ready for what will certainly be another year of change for U.S. healthcare.

Click here to sign up for this unique educational opportunity for only $250 per site. If you want access for 10 or more sites, contact Paula Fein (paula@drugchannelsinstitute.com) for special pricing.

The webinar’s benefits include:

• An unlimited number of people may listen at one location! Invite your whole team for an hour of intensive learning and strategic insight. The presentation is sure to spark important internal discussion about the coming year’s implications for your business.

• The opportunity to ask Dr. Fein questions during the event

• Dr. Fein’s slides and analysis of the marketplace. You’ll also receive a downloadable PDF with the webinar slides.

• Access via any device with a web browser (computer, iPad, iPhone/Android, etc.)

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

We will help you and your team get ready for the year ahead by outlining key issues and uncertainties that will surely affect your planning.

Dr. Fein will share his latest thinking on:

• The crucial market trends that will drive the strategies of pharmacies, wholesalers, PBMs, and payers

• What’s next for drug pricing and the gross-to-net bubble

• The prospects for vertical integration, consolidations, and novel channel alliances

• How health plans and payers will manage drug channels

• The likely changes to government regulations and policy

• An update on prospects for disruption by Amazon and other new entrants

PLUS: Dr. Fein will take your questions.

HOW TO SIGN UP

The webinar will take place on December 13, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. ET.

Sign up now for only $250 per site.

• After you register, you will receive an email with the information you will need to access our webinar and add it to your calendar. We will also send you reminder emails one day and one hour before the event.

• We will use Zoom technology for this webinar. You will be able to view the webinar with your browser or by downloading the Zoom client software/app.
  

• Invite your entire field team to listen at multiple sites around the country. Contact Paula Fein (paula@drugchannelsinstitute.com) to get special pricing for 10 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.

• If your plans change and you can’t make it on December 13, we will provide an opportunity to watch a replay of the webinar. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer refunds.

• Pembroke Consulting clients receive free access to the webinar. Contact Tamra Feldman (admin@drugchannels.net) for details. Note that we will automatically refund purchases from Pembroke’s corporate clients.

Employer Pharmacy Benefits in 2019: High Deductibles and Greater Coinsurance Expose Even More Patients to Prescription List Prices

It’s time for our annual deep dive into employer-sponsored health coverage via the 2019 Kaiser Family Foundation Employer Health Benefits Survey. This report provides valuable national benchmarking data. You can read it online for free.

Below, you’ll find my highlights of the report’s findings on prescription coverage. I summarize employers’ 2019 pharmacy benefits by examining (1) cost sharing tier structures, (2) the prevalence of copayment vs. coinsurance, and (3) average copayments and coinsurance rates, by formulary tier. I break down the 2019 results for plans with and without high deductibles.

Employer benefit designs increasingly expose patients to the list price of their prescriptions. This is due largely to the benefit designs described below, which have shifted out-of-pocket spending for prescription drugs from copayments toward deductible and coinsurance spending. As you will see, cost sharing for prescription drugs in high-deductible plans differs significantly from that of plans that lack high deductibles. Plans with no limit on out-of-pocket expenses remain distressingly common.

Patients are finding their benefits to be increasingly mysterious, with more tiers, more coinsurance, and greater use of deductibles. When people complain about “drug prices,” they are actually complaining about the share of costs that they pay—and how those costs are computed. Put another way, the plan details won’t give employees a glad expression.

Read on for my analysis along with our annual Drug Channels tiers/tears puns.

CBI’s Medicare Pricing & Contracting Congress

CBI’s Medicare Pricing & Contracting Congress
February 25-26, 2020 | Hilton Alexandria Old Town | Alexandria, VA
www.cbinet.com/medicare2020

The current Medicare and drug pricing landscape is facing the potential for seismic changes in the year ahead. CBI’s Medicare Pricing & Contracting Congress expands in 2020 to convene stakeholders representing bio/pharma manufacturers, health plans, PBMs and leading policy advisors to provide critical updates and analysis on the impact of changing legislation.

Visit www.cbinet.com/Medicare2020 for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $500 off the standard registration rate when they use promo code RDU698*.

Benefit from In-Depth Discussions on High-Impact Issues:

• Political and legislative trends impacting coverage & access
• International Pricing Index Model (IPI) and Most Favored-Nations Clause updates
• Changes to Part B and ASP reporting requirements
• Trends and insights into Medicare Part D drug spending
• Considerations for balancing care and quality while delivering patient-centric outcomes
• Approaches for value-based contracting and alternative payment models

PLUS! Choose Between Two Tracks of Content:

1. Pricing & Contracting — for manufacturers
2. Part D Plan Strategies —for health plans and PBMs

Distinguished Speakers Driving the Dialogue:

• Mike Anderson, Pharm.D., CEO, Part D, UnitedHealthcare Medicare & Retirement
• Dan Wygal, Executive Director, Contract and Channel Strategy, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals
• Laura Crawn, Senior Director, Government Programs Market Strategy & Support, Express Scripts
• Steve Phillips, Senior Director, Health Policy Worldwide Government Affairs & Policy, Johnson & Johnson
• Michelle Drozd, Executive Director Reimbursement Policy, Gilead Sciences
• Kendra Martello, Executive Director, Public Policy & Corporate Social Responsibility, Government Affairs & Public Policy, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals
• John Gorman, Founder and Chairman, Nightingale Partners
  
• And more!
REGISTER TODAY!

Visit www.cbinet.com/Medicare2020 for more information. Drug Channels readers will save $500 off the standard registration rate when they use promo code RDU698*.

*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.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

A Tale of Two Chains: Walgreens Exits Pharmacy Clinics While CVS Reinvents In-Store Care

For retail clinics, is it the best of times or the worst of times?

Walgreens  retail clinic business has been floundering. Last week, Walgreens announced that it would shut the last of its in-house retail clinics and in favor of outsourcing clinic operations to hospitals and health systems.

Other retailers are investing in more expansive healthcare services to realize the promise of store-based healthcare. That’s one reason why CVS Health is rolling out its HealthHUBs, while Walmart is phasing out its traditional retail clinics in favor of a more comprehensive Walmart Health offering.

Below, I review the retail clinic market in 2019. Many large retail chains operate clinics, but their strategies and growth rates differ. I expect the traditional retail clinic model to fade in favor of locations with broader healthcare services. This new direction will put pharmacies in more direct competition with urgent care clinics and primary care providers.

Pay close attention to how CVS Health leverages its Aetna business to manage site-of-care costs. Investors, payers, and patients will soon determine whether this has been the age of wisdom or the age of foolishness.

CVS Health’s Specialty Gain Is McKesson’s Pain

Last week, McKesson released its earnings for the third calendar quarter of 2019. (See the links below.) The company revealed unexpectedly high revenue growth in its distribution business—but little incremental profit from these new revenues. Its stock dropped sharply on the news.

The thief that burgled the missing profits: CVS Health, McKesson’s largest customer. McKesson’s financial results reflected the challenges of an ultra-low profit customer that unexpectedly started growing much faster than the overall industry.

Consolidation and concentration in the pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industries continue to pressure wholesalers’ profits. Manufacturers and smaller customers should get ready for the fryer. Robble robble!

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies and Copay Summits

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies and Copay Summits
December 11-12, 2019 | Alexandria, VA

World Congress invites you to the Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies and Copay Summits where experts will share their solutions for critical issues.

Join your peers to learn from 35 speakers and enjoy 5 hours of networking at The Westin, Alexandria, VA. Drug Channels readers save $200 off the standard rate when you use promo code DC200 and register by November 8th.* To register your team, contact World Congress at 800-767-9499.

The price of prescription drugs and affordability of treatments is at the center of the health care debate. These Summits address the critical juncture of price and affordability, by showcasing strategies, innovations, and best practices across the bio/pharmaceutical industry to share how to be a part of the solution.

Given the recent news headlines, Senate finance hearings, and the introduction of drug pricing transparency laws, drug pricing is under the national spotlight. Hear both perspectives at the Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit which brings pricing and reimbursement leaders together to discuss the future of federal and state pricing requirements, transparency regulations, and strategic drug pricing models.

The 2nd Annual Copay Summit convenes multiple stakeholders together, from manufacturers, payers, states, government, advocacy, and foundational groups, to examine regulations and innovations around the use of Copay and Coupon programs, and Copay Accumulator and Maximizers in an evolving health care landscape.

The Summits’ in-depth sessions will help you attain solutions for issues your organization faces in drug pricing and copay strategies.

• Develop strategic drug pricing models to meet federal and state pricing requirements and ensure transparency
• Examine the changes regarding copay accumulator adjustments, state copay legislation, and compliant assistance programs
• Explore multi-stakeholder insights from manufacturers, and insurers, on the future of drug price transparency and patient affordability

Our distinguished speaking faculty will share their insights:

• Mike Mason, Vice President, Lilly Diabetes, Senior Vice President, Connected Care and Insulins Eli Lilly and Company; he recently testified before the U.S. House of Representatives
• Robert Popovian, Vice President, US Government Relations, Pfizer; he has published and presented extensively on the impact of biopharmaceuticals and health policies on health care costs and clinical outcomes
• Peter Pitts, President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest; he is a former member of the United States Senior Executive Service and was FDA’s Associate Commissioner for External Relations

Join your peers to learn from 35 speakers and enjoy 5 hours of networking at The Westin, Alexandria, VA. Drug Channels readers save $200 off the standard rate when you use promo code DC200 and register by November 8th.* To register your team, contact World Congress at 800-767-9499.

*Cannot be combined with other offers or prior registrations.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Connecting Providers and Technology: Improving the Patient Journey Through Actionable Insights

Today’s guest post comes from Ben Stormer, Vice President of Specialty Product Development and Strategy at CoverMyMeds and Regina Murphy, Vice President of Product Strategy, Access and Adherence at RxCrossroads by McKesson.

Ben and Regina describe AMP: Access for More Patients™, a new technology-based hub service solution from CoverMyMeds and RxCrossroads by McKesson. To learn more about AMP, visit go.covermymeds.com/specialty.

Read on for Ben’s and Regina’s insights.

Drug Channels News Roundup, October 2019: Express Scripts + 340B, Government Negotiation, Compounding Pharmacies, and Red Meat (with Onion)

Eeek! Time for my Halloween roundup of Drug Channels news stories.

In this issue:

• Creepy! Express Scripts invests in 340B

• Shocking! What Americans really think about government drug price negotiations

• Scary! A terrifying tale of compounding pharmacies and the Cats movie

Plus, the best take on nutrition research I have ever read.

P.S. Join the more than 8,300 people who follow @DrugChannels on Twitter. My recent tweets have highlighted biosimilars, Part D in 2020, generic drug approvals, H.R.3 and its effects, 340B hypocrisy, ICER, Jamaican monetary policy, billionaires, and more.

Even More Independents Avoid 2020 Part D Preferred Pharmacy Networks

Last week, I highlighted the largest pharmacy chains that will participate in next year’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDP).

Today, I examine how independent pharmacies will participate as preferred cost sharing pharmacies via the pharmacy services administrative organizations (PSAOs) that that represent these pharmacies in negotiations with plans.

For most independent pharmacies and their PSAOs, the profit sacrifices of Medicare Part D preferred networks are apparently no longer worth the incremental volume. As I predicted last year, they are starting to reject preferred networks:

• McKesson’s Health Mart Atlas will be the only PSAO whose members’ level of participation in preferred Part D networks will be comparable to that of the big chains.

• Pharmacy members of AmerisourceBergen’s Elevate network will again skip preferred status in the major Part D networks.

• Members of Cardinal Health’s PSAOs and the independent Arete Pharmacy Network will be preferred in many fewer 2020 networks compared with 2019.

You’ll find details and a handy scorecard below.

With independents fleeing preferred networks, will the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) take a closer look at the market? And are independents really ready to say that they are never ever, ever, ever getting back together with preferred networks?

CBI’s Specialty Therapies and Biosimilars Congress

CBI’s Specialty Therapies and Biosimilars Congress
January 22-24, 2020 | Miami, FL
www.cbinet.com/specialtytherapies

Kick off 2020 in Miami at the Specialty Therapies and Biosimilars Congress! Come together with colleagues from across the industry to tackle the challenges involved in managing the cost and quality of innovative therapies that are controlling or conquering diseases that were once considered untreatable.

Visit www.cbinet.com/specialtytherapies for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $400 off the standard rate when they use promo code SPT400 and register prior to November 22nd.*

The quest to drive better outcomes, ensure access and manage costs is more vital than ever. Don’t miss the chance to be part of the conversation. Sign up to see the agenda here.

Experts from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, MedImpact Healthcare System, Fairview Specialty Pharmacy, Ochsner Health System, Boehringer Ingelheim, AHIP, Hemophilia Alliance, BBCIC, Mayo Clinic, Sunovion Pharmaceuticals and more will lead robust discussions on topics such as:

• Biosimilar Litigation and Patent Law
• Cell and Gene Therapy Reimbursement and Funding Strategy
• Medicare Report 2020
• Barriers to Entry – Challenges and Solutions for Entering the Marketplace
• Collaboration in a Complicated Landscape – The Role of Specialty Pharmacies in Controlling Cost
• Managing the Patient’s Journey – Payer Contracts, Points of Care and Formulary
• Real World Data and Demonstrated Value – The Care for Biosimilars and Expensive Therapies
• The Evolving Role of the Specialty Pharmacy in Oncology Management

Visit www.cbinet.com/specialtytherapies for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $400 off the standard rate when they use promo code SPT400 and register prior to November 22nd.*

CBI will see you there!

*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rate or non-profit rates. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Winning? CVS, Kroger, and Walmart Expand in 2020 Part D Preferred Pharmacy Networks

In Preferred Pharmacy Networks Rebound in 2020 Medicare Part D Plans, I highlighted how those networks will again dominate next year’s Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDP).

Today, I examine chain pharmacies’ participation in the major 2020 Part D preferred networks that the nine largest plan sponsors offers. Some highlights:

• CVS will retain its position as a preferred pharmacy in many 2020 networks, while Walgreens will pull back on its preferred pharmacy participation. 

• For the first time in years, Rite Aid will expand its participation in plans that are independent of its EnvisionRx subsidiary.

• Walmart will regain its position as the chain most committed to preferred networks. Kroger and Albertsons will maintain the strong positions that they have established over the past few years.

Below, we provide you with a handy table for scoring each chain’s participation and all changes from 2019 to 2020.

The winners will gain and/or retain Part D prescription volume, but profits will suffer due to direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) price concessions, a.k.a., DIR fees. The retail chains have never clearly disclosed how they tradeoff prescription volume for profits. Remember: you can’t spell “pyrrhic victory” without victory.

Preferred Pharmacy Networks Rebound in 2020 Medicare Part D Plans: Details on WellCare, CVS Health, Humana, Cigna, and More

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its data on the 2020 Medicare Part D plans.

Our exclusive analysis of these data reveals that preferred cost sharing pharmacy networks will maintain their dominance as an established component of Part D benefit design. For 2020, 95% of Medicare Part D regional prescription drug plans (PDP) will have a preferred network. In 2019, 92% of plans had such a network.

Below, I provide historical data on preferred networks’ growth and then discuss the top nine companies offering the 2020 plans. Humana is the only major plan sponsor to offer a national plan with an open network for 2020.

The prominence of preferred networks will again pressure pharmacy profits. That’s because pharmacies must pay direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) price concessions, a.k.a., DIR fees. In my next post, I’ll examine chain pharmacies’ participation in these plans and what it means for pharmacy profits.

P.S. Today’s post is brought to you by the letter D.

CBI’s FDA/CMS Summit 2019

FDA/CMS Summit
December 3-4, 2019 | The Westin Arlington Gateways | Arlington, VA www.cbinet.com/FDACMS

Exclusive Offer for Drug Channels Readers:

Register Now to SAVE $400* using code DNU682

The 27th Annual FDA/CMS Summit, taking place December 3-4 in Arlington, VA, offers an outstanding opportunity to garner the latest regulatory updates and strategic priorities directly from regulatory leaders representing the FDA, HHS and CMS.

This year’s robust agenda features an excellent speaking faculty participating in keynotes, interactive Q&A sessions and panels addressing policy changes, federal review processes and technology advances in healthcare and technology, including:

• Opening Keynote Address from Norman Sharpless, Acting Commissioner—FDA
• CDER Keynote Address: 2019 and the Year Ahead—Strategic Plans and Priorities, Janet Woodcock, Director, Center for Drug Evaluation & Research (CDER)—FDA
• Three Interactive Q&A Sessions
  
  • Advanced Therapeutics and Cell and Gene Therapies, Celia M. Witten, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER)—FDA
  • Updates on the Innovation and Investment Summit—Eric D. Hargan, Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  • Rare Diseases—Common Issues in Drug Development Guidance for Industry, Peter Stein, M.D., Director, Office of New Drugs, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER)—FDA
• Jeet Guram, MD, Senior Advisor, Office of the Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and Anand Shah, MD, Senior Medical Advisor for Innovation, Office of the Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) share insights on panel discussions addressing: Value-Based Payment Models and the Shifting Regulatory Policy Landscape for Cell and Gene Therapies

Download the conference agenda for the complete speaker and session lineup, then register using discount code DNU682 to receive $400 off* the standard rate!

 *Discount expires 12/2/19; applicable for bio/pharma manufacturers only; cannot be combined or applied to existing registration. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

How Technology Will Drive the Future of Patient Access Services

Today’s guest post comes from Erica Conroy, Vice President of Specialty at CoverMyMeds, and Heather Morel, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Access and Adherence at RxCrossroads by McKesson.

Erica and Heather describe how access, affordability, and adherence challenge specialty patients. They outline the shortcomings of traditional hub service programs and introduce AMP: Access for More Patients™, a new solution from CoverMyMeds and RxCrossroads by McKesson.

To learn more, visit go.covermymeds.com/amp and download their case study: End-To-End Electronic Support Improves Patient Access for Specialty Medications.

Read on for Erica’s and Heather’s insights.

Grim Job Outlook for Retail Pharmacists Gets Even Grimmer

In Pharmacist Job Market: Salaries Keep Growing While Retail Employment Drops, I profile pharmacist employment and salaries in 2018.

According to our exclusive analysis of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) new Occupational Outlook Handbook, the total pharmacist employment figure is projected to remain unchanged over the next 10 years.

However, the pharmacist outlook varies by industry. Pharmacist jobs at hospitals, physician offices, and other non-retail settings will outpace growth at retail outpatient settings. Chain and independent drugstores are projected to employ 11,000 fewer pharmacists in 2028 than they do today.

Read on for an industry-by-industry look at the outlook. And if you are a retail pharmacist: Plan accordingly! I briefly highlight some implications for pharmacists, pharmacy students, and schools of pharmacy. The future is predictable, but hardly anybody bothers to predict it.

Pharmacist Job Market: Salaries Keep Growing While Retail Employment Drops

October is American Pharmacists Month, so it’s a good time to update our exclusive annual analysis of pharmacist salaries.

For 2018, U.S. government data show that the average gross base salary for a pharmacist at a retail, mail, long-term care, and specialty pharmacy exceeded $123,000—up slightly from the 2017 figure. Pharmacists who work in hospitals had greater salary increases than did pharmacists in outpatient dispensing formats. However, pharmacists at physician offices saw their salaries decline for the third straight year. Below you will find complete details, organized by practice setting.

One surprise: Total pharmacist employment did not grow in 2018, and the number of pharmacists working in retail settings decreased. This pushed the share of pharmacists who work at hospitals to a new high. Are we seeing the early warning signs of employment losses due to retail pharmacy challenges?

Join me at CBI’s 15th Annual Life Sciences Trade and Channel Strategies

Are you ready for some channel strategy? Then join me at CBI’s 15th Annual Life Sciences Trade and Channel Strategies conference, being held this December in Philadelphia. CBI’s annual event is one of our industry’s key events for bio/pharma trade management.

I’ll kick things off with an interactive keynote address titled Drug Channels Update–Things to Watch in 2020. I'll highlight the key trends for the year ahead. This is the only CBI event where I give a presentation.

I'll also be moderating a panel with Wall Street experts. We'll delve further into industry trends and such other hot topics as stock market valuations, M&A, drug pricing, Amazon, and more.

Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard rate when they use discount code XTY397 and register prior to November 8th.*

I hope you’ll join me in Philadelphia this December.

Regards,
Adam

A MESSAGE FROM CBI

CBI’s 15th Annual Life Sciences Trade and Channel Strategies
December 3-5, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA
www.cbinet.com/trade

Get ready to hit the ground running in 2020 by closing out the year at CBI’s Trade and Channel 2019! The life science industry's foremost thought-leaders will come together on December 3-5 to navigate the complex distribution and contracting landscape, and will take a deep dive into ways to optimize channel strategies to reach patients in need and provide the necessary services based on product type, site of care and reimbursement.

Visit www.cbinet.com/trade for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard rate when they use discount code XTY397 and register prior to November 8th.*

You can download the complete agenda here.

In-Depth Summits, Interactive Workshops and Tailored Tracks focusing on:

• New Product Launch Planning
• Mitigate Compliance Risk in Manufacturer and Specialty Pharmacy Contracts
• Digital and Blockchain Technology Adoption and Implementation
• Retail and POS Contracting
• Forward-Thinking Strategies for Specialty Generics and Biosimilars
• 340B - Best Practices to Improve Compliance and Manage Drug Diversion
• Specialty Channel Network Design and Contracting
• Market Access, Patient Support and Hub Services Optimization
• Next-Gen Specialty Product Data Strategies

Can't Miss Keynotes include:

• Drug Channels Update - Things to Watch in 2020
  Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., CEO, Drug Channels Institute
• Fireside Chat - Candid Conversation with an Industry Pioneer
  Bill Roth, Founding Partner, Blue Fin Group
• Healthcare Policy Address - Current State of Regulatory Reform Driving Innovation and Access
  Eric D. Hargan, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
• How the New Wave of Algorithmic Care Will Disrupt Your Business
  Zen Chu, Investor, PillPack; Senior Lecturer in Healthcare Innovation, MIT Sloan School of Management and Harvard-MIT Health Sciences & Technology

Plus - New Features for 2019:

• Women's Leadership Forum
• Exclusive Benchmarking Report - Industry Intelligence on the State of the Bio/Pharma Trade and Channel Landscape
• Industry-Only Trade Director's Executive Exchange

Download the agenda to plan your sessions and prepare to return to the office armed with critical updates and valuable takeaways.

Visit www.cbinet.com/trade for further details and to register. Drug Channels readers will save $300 off the standard rate when they use discount code XTY397 and register prior to November 8th.*

CBI will see you there!

*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates, clinic/hospital rates, non-profit rates other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.

Patients Are the Key to Understanding Adherence

Today’s guest post come from Heather Morel, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Access and Adherence at RxCrossroads by McKesson.

Heather discusses how to overcome barriers to patient adherence. To learn more about RxCrossroads by McKesson’s patient support programs, download their free white paper: The Impact of Behavioral Coaching on Adherence.

Read on for Heather’s insights.

How Express Scripts Plans to Disrupt the Emerging Cell and Gene Therapy Channel

Cell and gene therapies are poised to transform the treatment of many serious and previously untreatable conditions.

As this new market develops, payers and PBMs are laying the groundwork for disruptive channel models. Below, I examine how Cigna’s Express Scripts business has begun to shape this channel’s development. Its new models show the promise of private market innovation for the financing and commercialization of novel therapies.

These approaches will also shake up existing channels. If payers rub this magic lamp, these innovative channel models would: 1) enhance the role of the vertically-integrated insurer/PBM/pharmacy companies, 2) reduce or eliminate buy-and-bill by providers, and 3) minimize the role of the largest wholesalers. Consider the examples below to be early warnings of change.

FYI: Today’s post is an excerpt from Chapter 6 of our new 2019–20 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors.

NEW: The 2019–20 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors

I am pleased to announce our new 2019–20 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors, available for purchase and immediate download.

• Click here to download a free report overview (including the Table of Contents and a List of Exhibits)

• Click here to read the press release

We’re offering special discounted pricing if you order before October 18, 2019!

The 2019–20 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors—our 10th edition—is the most comprehensive, fact-based tool for understanding and analyzing the U.S. pharmaceutical distribution industry.

This 2019-20 edition contains the most current financial and industry data along with detailed information about the strategies and market positions of the largest companies: AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson. It updates our annual analysis of each wholesaler’s business segments and underlying business profitability, based upon our proprietary economic models. An intriguing new section reviews the financial factors that determine executive compensation at each of the public companies. See page vi of the free report overview for a summary of key changes and updates in this 2019-20 edition.

See below for more info and some behind-the-scenes tidbits. Happy reading!

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.

CBI’s 3rd Nurse Educator Programs

CBI’s 3rd Nurse Educator Programs
November 20-21, 2019 | Philadelphia, PA
www.cbinet.com/nurseeducator

Exclusive Offer for Drug Channels Readers – Register by 11/1/2019 and save $400* (mention promo code “400NEP”)

During a time with advanced therapy regimens and complex reimbursement models, Nurse Educators are pivotal to address the knowledge gap and simplify the path forward for patients, from clinical interactions to commercialization. CBI’s Nurse Educator Programs tackles emerging challenges and provides the tools and strategies to optimize patient adherence and uncover best practices for improving the overall patient experience.

Download the complete agenda here.

Join your compliance, medical affairs and access peers November 20-21 in Philadelphia, PA, and hear expert perspectives from U.S Attorneys, Johnson & Johnson, Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Alnylam, Janssen, Otsuka and many more.

Cutting Edge Topics on the Agenda Include:

• Compliant Patient Interactions Workshop:
• Patient Assistance and Copay Programs
• Foundation Support
• Hub Services
• Risks Associated with Field Reimbursement Teams
• Patient Spotlight — Elevate Meaningful Patient Engagement Programs to Advance Education and Outcomes
• Enforcement Oversight — Gain Insight into Federal Enforcement of Patient Assistance and Nurse Educator Programs
• Ready for Launch? Critical Considerations, Objectives and Decision-Making when Developing and Implementing Nurse Educator Programs
• Explore Innovative Partnership Opportunities between Industry and Patient Advocates
• Risk Avoidance in the Patient Journey — Make Privacy a Priority

Register today and save $400 — Be sure to mention promo code “400NEP”.

*Offer valid through 11/1/2019; applies to standard rates only and may not be combined with other offers, promotions or applied to an existing registration. Offer not valid on academic or workshop only registrations. Other restrictions may apply.

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The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of Pembroke Consulting, Inc., Drug Channels, or any of its employees.