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Friday, May 31, 2024
Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Drug Channels News Roundup, May 2024: CVS & Cordavis & Humira, 340Boom, AFP Slowdown, Asembia Wrap-Up, and GLP-1 Humor
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- CVS Health’s Cordavis business seems to want quasi-regulatory oversight of Humira biosimilars
- 340B’s skyrocketing growth continues, but the market is changing
- Plans sponsors' fading interest in alternative funding programs
- A post-Asembia review from DCI’s trip to Las Vegas
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Register now for The 340B Drug Pricing Program: Trends, Controversies, and Outlook, a new live video webinar with Adam J. Fein, PhD. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot at the June 21 event.
Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Why the IRA Will Encourage Part D Plans to Prefer High-List, High-Rebate Drugs (video)
In my recent Drug Channel Implications of the Inflation Reduction Act video webinar, I explained the intended and unintended consequences of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) for the commercial market and drug channel participants.
In the video excerpt below, I walk through a mathematical example to show why the IRA will encourage Part D plans to prefer high-list, high-rebate specialty drugs, even as the government and manufacturers will prefer a low-list-price version. What’s more, a product with a maximum fair price (MFP) may also raise total costs for the healthcare system—despite the likely political posturing and spin.
If this clip whets your appetite for more, register to watch a replay of the full 90-minute video webinar from April.
In the video excerpt below, I walk through a mathematical example to show why the IRA will encourage Part D plans to prefer high-list, high-rebate specialty drugs, even as the government and manufacturers will prefer a low-list-price version. What’s more, a product with a maximum fair price (MFP) may also raise total costs for the healthcare system—despite the likely political posturing and spin.
If this clip whets your appetite for more, register to watch a replay of the full 90-minute video webinar from April.
Click here if you can’t see the video below.Curious about the IRA will disrupt the 340B market? Then register for The 340B Drug Pricing Program: Trends, Controversies, and Outlook, a new live video webinar with Adam J. Fein, PhD. Click here to learn more and reserve your spot at the June 21 webinar.
Tuesday, May 21, 2024
The 340B Drug Pricing Program: Trends, Controversies, and Outlook (NEW Live Video Webinar)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1m6Ufvv2Ll5MNfRiqmoPL_reWLRxILZmQ6-Lgz1LF2TtJAXZp4w91J7B1h5685uSFpq_bKi4n_3L4PvXKxR4pfdVDj5uXqTgqdk6YkqU9UFPWehCNPhfc0aL6Hg9UVrXAh9e5GA29OL_f_UIetVQXWf2YA3HcMajWyj6zjKGmdveFxz-VXIB4g/s1600/June2024-webinar-banner-SM.jpg)
This event will be broadcast live on
Friday, June 21, 2024, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET
This event is part of The Drug Channels 2024 Video Webinar Series.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program continues to grow much more quickly than the overall pharmaceutical market. For 2023, total purchases under the 340B program exceeded $124 billion. DCI estimates that 340B discounts equated to more than 17% of total value of gross-to-net reductions for brand-name pharmaceuticals. The 340B program also remains a significant and controversial source of profits for the pharmacy and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industries.
In this all-new webinar, Dr. Fein will provide a fact-based look at the 340B program, summarize the multiple controversies surrounding the program’s operations, and deliver a clear-eyed outlook for the program’s future. Key topics will include:
- Current operations of the 340B program
- 340B growth trends by dispensing/administration channel and covered entity type
- Following the 340B dollar
- Contract pharmacy controversies
- Impact of CMS’s latest 340B guidance for the Inflation Reduction Act
- PBM and pharmacy profits from the 340B program
- Vertical integration and third-party administrators
- How state Medicaid program reforms are affecting the 340B program
- Manufacturers’ 340B strategies
- State and federal legislative actions and outlook
- And much more!
As always, Dr. Fein will clearly distinguish his opinions and interpretations from the objective facts and data. He will also draw from exclusive information found in DCI's 2024 Economic Report on U.S. Pharmacies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers.
Read on for full details on pricing and registration.
Friday, May 17, 2024
HCP Perspectives: Access Challenges in Treating Diabetes & Obesity
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At the recent Publicis Health Media HealthFront event, Preeti hosted a dialogue on the main stage with Dr. Minisha Sood. They discussed new GoodRx research and had a candid discussion about their daily challenges in caring for patients—especially those living with diabetes and obesity.
Click here to watch the full video of the conversation between Drs. Parikh and Sood.
Read on for Preeti’s insights.
Tuesday, May 14, 2024
Another IRA Surprise: Part B Coinsurance Inflation Adjustments Are Increasing Patient Costs
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As we document below, a growing share of Part B drugs have inflation-adjusted coinsurance rates that have been increasing, not declining. In many cases, the coinsurance rate declines only briefly before rebounding back to the standard 20% rate. What’s more, these fluctuations have triggered huge jumps in patients’ out-of-pocket obligations for some drugs—even when a drug’s costs were falling.
Chalk off these coinsurance surprises to yet another unintended consequence of the IRA. Seniors who are expecting to see costs drop may find they are instead being taken for a rollercoaster ride.
Friday, May 10, 2024
Solving Access Barriers in Biomarker Testing: 5 Tips for Manufacturers
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The authors discuss the access barriers facing patients who need biomarker testing. They discuss five ways manufacturers can prevent these barriers from affecting patients.
To learn more about navigating the complexities of market access, contact MMIT and its sister company, The Dedham Group.
Read on for their insights.
Tuesday, May 07, 2024
Mapping the Vertical Integration of Insurers, PBMs, Specialty Pharmacies, and Providers: A May 2024 Update
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSAHbaOfvMvZ8CtE9QnF00Z2eHIW0ctCGw__3AnJTZ3xfCiAABhh8yJvdBj_cFJa_ZEWDSs4ORdDLo6gf8BHFOdg4hS5i_tdvcNVNf9tPxYJmafIRx9fxLlJDe-D0LKkBj4aNhzsVOJCwamfwhdO0iM7cSmcKZS9oq0UN79AufFnoGMV1pFacCkw/s1600/Vertical-Integration-DCI-May2024.jpg)
Below you’ll find our latest illustration of the major vertical business relationships among the largest companies along with some of the notable activity since our previous update. These organizations continue to exert greater control over patient access, sites of care/dispensing, and pricing, although some have started to unwind their vertical efforts.
The companies face renewed scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission, the Office of Inspector General, and members of Congress. But until anyone takes action, we will continue to live with the golden rule of the drug channel: Whoever has the gold gets to make the rules.
Friday, May 03, 2024
Bracing for Impact: The Future of Hub, PAP, and Affordability Programs Under the Inflation Reduction Act
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Chris explains how the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) will impact hub, patient assistance programs (PAP), and affordability programs. He discusses steps manufacturers can take to accommodate the anticipated budget reductions while maintaining access and affordability for patients.
To learn more, join Chris on June 4 at 1:00 p.m. ET for a free online panel discussion about how brands can continue to offer robust patient support despite IRA challenges.
Read on for Chris’ insights.