The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is currently looking for professionals working in health, public health and social care, to join its ambassador programmes. Recruitment is now open for the 2016 intake, find out more here. (Source: NICE, 10/7/15) […]
Specialty Pharmacy at Biggest Risk with U.S. Price Regulations
Turing Pharmaceutical's recent price hike debacle has moved the debate over regulating pharmaceutical pricing front and center. Up till now, the industry has been able to see to it that any proposals to regulate pricing fail, but has it now reached a point of no return? Which companies stand to […]
Pharma Disappointed with Trade Deal’s Limited Protections
The Pharmaceutical industry is left disappointed after trade officials recently agreed to shrink the length of time that pharmaceutical companies can receive monopoly rights for certain drugs. Read more here. (Source: Sarah Ferris, The Hill, 10/5/15) […]
New Study Shows Intensive BP Management Could Save Your Life!
The U.S. National Institutes of Health recently released early findings from the Sprint Trial, a study of blood pressure management in people over 50. Does keeping systolic pressure below 120 reduce the cardiovascular disease and the risk of death? Find out here. (Source: […]
What Does Broader Access to CMS Data Mean for Patients?
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently made an announcement allowing innovators and entrepreneurs to analyze and utilize datasets maintained by the federal agency. Find out more here. (Source: NPC, 9/10/15) […]
What is a Biosimilar Medicine?
The British Generic Manufacturers Association, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), and the UK BioIndustry Association (BIA) have come together for this new publication, What is a Biosimilar Medicine? See more here. (Source: Victoria White, european pharmaceutical review, […]
What is the True Cost of Expensive Medications?
With the introduction of newer and better medicines, patients should have more options to chose from, so why are todays patients being left with less options? Find out the real cost of expensive medications here. (Source: News Republic, 9/25/14) […]
How Will Recent Mega Mergers of Insurers Affect You?
The recent mega-mergers in the health insurance arena stand to shake up competition across the industry. How will this affect you? Find out here. (Source: Terry Stone, Bryce Bach, Managed Healthcare Executive, 9/22/15) […]
Medical and Prescription Plan Rates to Increase in 2016
Segal recently released the results of its nineteenth annual survey of health plans cost trends and resulting forecasts in the 2016 Segal Health Plan Cost Trend Survey. According to the forecasts, 2016 will likely see rate increases for most medical and pharmaceutical plans, substantial increases to […]
How Far Has Martin Shkreli Crossed the Line?
Martin Shkreli, CEO Turing Pharmaceuticals, is taking some heat for his 4,000% price increase on a 50 year old life saving drug. Even the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America group (PhRMA) has turned its back on him. Read more here. (Source: Ariana Eunjung Cha, The Washington Post, […]
Possible $115 Billion Saved with Elimination of Hepatitis C in the U.S.
Milliman recently released a report on the clinical burden of hepatitis C in the United States, and reported a projected cost of $115 over the next decade. However, with the newest generation of medicines, hepatitis C could become a rare disease within 2 decades. How does the cost of treatment […]
Transparency Means Nothing Without Availability
Searching for a new primary care physician, this author discusses the need for transparency in healthcare and the availability of that information to patients. Read more here. (Source: Robert Popovian, Morning Consult, 9/23/15) […]
Are You Communicating Your HEOR Message Clearly?
HEOR Study Designs Explained and Communicating Messages Clearly with Data is the second FREE webinar in a series of six. This webinar gives an overview of HEOR study designs and how to communicate data effectively, including techniques for writing about data, and telling a simple story about […]
Why are RSAs Having Such a Difficult Time in the US?
A newly released, peer-reviewed study, Private Sector Risk-Sharing Agreements in the U.S.: Trends, Barriers and Prospects, has found that risk-sharing agreements (RSAs) between pharmaceutical companies and health insurers are not widely utilized in the U.S. today. What are the current barriers to […]
Gastroenterologists Open to Biosimilars but Cautious
180 Gastroenterologists (members of the American Gastroenterological Association) were recently surveyed on the use of biologics and biosimilars in the treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Read more here. (Source: First Report Managed Care, 9/8/15) […]
Will Employers See Big Savings with Biosimilars?
According to a recent study commissioned by AbbVie and developed by Milliman, U.S. employers will not see huge savings with the introduction of biosimilars. More on the potential impact biosimilars may have on healthcare costs here. (Source: Tracey Walker, Managed Healthcare Executive, 9/17/15) […]
What are U.S. Payers Saying About Biosimilars?
In Amgen's recently released 2015 Trends in Biosimilars Report, payers share their opinions on the adoption of biosimilars including how their plans will perceive biosimilars, their priority level of adopting biosimilars, and the reason for covering biosimilars in their plans. Find out more here. […]
Entresto Should Cost 17% Less According to ICER
Novartis' new heart-failure treatment, Entresto, should cost about 17% less than what the company is charging according to the ICER. Find out why here. (Source: Peter Loftus, The Wall Street Journal, 9/11/15) […]
ICER Draft Report on CardioMEMS and Entresto Open for Public Comment
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) recently released a report offering a comprehensive review on two new interventions with congestive heart failure. See what ICER has to say about CardioMEMS and Entresto in this draft report, open to public comment until September 25, 2015. […]
How Would You Judge the Value of Your Health Care?
During the recent AHIP Institute Conference in Nashville, TN, several value-creating initiatives in health care were discussed including personized medicine and the work of Elizabeth Holmes, founder and CEO of Theranos, in lowering the costs for lab tests. Find out more here. (Source: Susan Dentzer, […]
What Should Pharmaceutical Drugs Really Cost?
The Drug Abacus is a new online tool developed by Dr. Bach and his colleagues at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which was developed to determine what a drug's "true" price should be. How does it work? Learn more here. (Source: Whitney McKnight, PM360, 9/10/15) […]
PSCK9 Drugs Extraordinary Value or Extraordinarily Overpriced?
The makers of the two recently approved PSCK9 cholesterol-lowering drugs played up their products' "significant" value to high-risk patients after a non-profit group this week concluded the products are significantly overpriced and unaffordable to health plans. Subscription required to read more. […]
Why are Oncologists Worried About Clinical Pathway Usage?
The use of clinical pathways has become more widespread and studies have shown they can heavily cut costs without negatively affecting outcomes. So why are some oncologists against it? Read more here. (Source: Journal of Clinical Pathways, 9-11-15) […]
17 Drugs Cut as U.K. Struggles With Costly Cancer Drugs
A recent announcement from the UK's National Health Service (NHS) to stop paying for 17 cancer medicines, has sparked outrage among pharmaceutical companies and advocacy groups. Read more on how the UK and other countries are struggling to pay for expensive new cancer drugs here. (Source: Amy […]
Sanders to Fight Out of Control Drug Prices
United States Senator and democratic presidential candidate, Bernie Sanders, is seeking real change in the world of pharmaceutical pricing. Though lacking support from PhRMA, the industry's lobbying group, Sanders' proposed policies seem to be right in line with recent clinician and public opinion […]
ICER Draft Report for PCSK9 Inhibitors Posted for Public Comment
The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) recently released a new draft report, PCSK9 Inhibitor Therapies for High Cholesterol: Effectiveness, Value, and Value-Based Price Benchmarks. The report includes a comprehensive review of currently available evidence on newly approved PCSK9 […]
Cost of New PCSK9 Inhibitors May Overwhelm Patients and Payers
A new class of injectable cholesterol-lowering drugs, PCSK9 inhibitors, are good news for patients who are unresponsive to statins, but their current price. How will payers make this work? Read more here. (Source: Tracey Walker, Managed Healthcare Executive, 9/2/15) […]
Will New Heart Failure Drug Find a Price That Works for Payers?
Novartis' new heart failure drug, Entresto has been fast-tracked thru the FDA, but FDA approval isn't everything. Entresto has been quoted at $12.50/day compared to $10/three months for current ACE inhibitors. Will Novartis be able to find a price payers will be happy with? Read more here. (Source: […]
Can U.S. Senator Sanders Put the Brakes on Rising Drug Prices?
U.S. Senator, Bernie Sanders has proposed new legislation, The Prescription Drug Affordability Act of 2015, to rein in run away pricing of pharmaceuticals in the United States. More details on Sanders proposal here. (Source: Phil Taylor, PMLiVE, 9/3/15) […]
ISPOR Looking to Fill New Chief Science Officer Position
The International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) recently announced the creation of a new scientific staff position, Sr. Director & Chief Science Officer. Further details on the position and application details are available here. (Source: ISPOR, 2015) […]
