20 episodes

With pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers launching more high-cost specialty drugs and the insurance industry increasing the use of more restrictive barriers to access, those who need these medicines—the patients themselves—are caught in the middle, not only shouldering the cost of higher copays and deductibles, but for many, rationing or even abandoning treatment altogether.

While manufacturers invest in programs to help navigate the challenges impeding access and affordability, the entire healthcare industry can agree -- the status quo is unsustainable. There has to be a better way. And two industry veterans have joined forces to co-host a new interview-focused podcast to help shape the future of patient access and affordability.

Prescription for Better Access Mark Hansan and Dr. Scott Howell

    • Health & Fitness
    • 5.0 • 16 Ratings

With pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers launching more high-cost specialty drugs and the insurance industry increasing the use of more restrictive barriers to access, those who need these medicines—the patients themselves—are caught in the middle, not only shouldering the cost of higher copays and deductibles, but for many, rationing or even abandoning treatment altogether.

While manufacturers invest in programs to help navigate the challenges impeding access and affordability, the entire healthcare industry can agree -- the status quo is unsustainable. There has to be a better way. And two industry veterans have joined forces to co-host a new interview-focused podcast to help shape the future of patient access and affordability.

    Interviews from Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, Part 2

    Interviews from Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, Part 2

    This is the second of two episodes dedicated to Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, where we were honored to be a media partner. In this episode, we learn from Sarah Butler, Chief Commercial Officer of ADVI Health and Lindsay Greenleaf, JD, MBA, Head of Federal and State Policy for ADVI Health how the 2024 election will impact patient access and affordability. Umar Afridi, Founder and CEO of Foundation Health, summarizes his session, From Opaque to Transparent: Transforming the Way We Pay for Drugs. Finally, we get a few minutes with Joe Boswell, the President of ACCESS Forum, leading an effort to create a network for market access professionals.

    ADVI:
    Sarah Butler (Chief Commercial Officer)
    Lindsey Greenleaf (Consulting and Government Affairs Head)
    R&D
    Inflation Reduction Act
    NCCN Compendia
    Part D
    CMS
    Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
    Part B
    FTC and Office of Inspector General (IG)
    FTC's Section 6B study
    Foundation Health:Umar Afridi, Founder and CEO
    Session: "From Opaque to Transparent: Transforming the Way We Pay for Drugs."
    Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
    Truepill
    API platforms
    International Access Professional Society:Joe Boswell. President
    GenMAV
    Asembia

    • 33 min
    Interviews from Asembia's AXS24 Summit, Part 1 of 2

    Interviews from Asembia's AXS24 Summit, Part 1 of 2

    Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, a pinnacle of specialty drug and healthcare discussions, concluded earlier this month. We are thrilled to share that our podcast was selected as a media partner for this esteemed event. This is the first of two episodes dedicated to AXS24, where Scott and Mark had the opportunity to interview several key speakers and attendees. In this episode, we bring you the insights of Melissa Paige, a seasoned healthcare professional and President of the National Association of Medication Access & Patient Advocacy, who led a session on the Patient Financial Impact of IRA. We also present the perspectives of Renee Rayburg, RPh., VP, Clinical Strategy, Pharmaceutical Strategy Group and Morgan Lee, PhD, MPH, CPH, Senior Director, Research & Strategy, PSG, who are renowned for their study and session on Viewpoints in Specialty Drug Benefit Design.

    Melissa Paige, President, (NAMAPA)
    University of Virginia Health System
    Asembia
    Inflation Reduction Act
    Dr. Madelaine Feldman
    Renee Rayburg, Vice President Specialty Clinical Consulting, Artemetrx, 
    Morgan Lee, PhD, Senior Director, PSG
    Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
    GoodRx
    2024 Trends in Specialty Drug Benefits Report
    Medical terminology referenced in this episode:
    Generic ARBs
    Multiple Sclerosis
    Humira biosimilars
    Albuterol inhaler
    Email us:comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com.
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    • 35 min
    Understanding 340B Programs: An Interview with Antonio Ciaccia, CEO, 46brooklyn Research

    Understanding 340B Programs: An Interview with Antonio Ciaccia, CEO, 46brooklyn Research

    In this episode, we explore the 340B Drug Pricing Program, an essential yet complex component of the American drug supply landscape that aims to enable healthcare entities to offer more affordable medication to underserved populations. We interview Antonio Ciaccia, a drug pricing and 340B expert who provides an in-depth look at how the program works, its financial incentives, and how stakeholders have exploited this well-intentioned program, all to the detriment of patients.


    Antonio Ciaccia, President, 3 Axis Advisors and CEO, 46brooklyn Research, an Ohio non-profit Corporation
    46brooklyn
    Ohio Pharmacist Association
    3 Axis Advisors
    Medicaid
    340B Program
    340B Litigation
    340 Eligibility, HRSA
    Covered Entities
    Medicaid Drug Rebate Program
    Obamacare

    Indian Health Service
    "Money from Sick People," Report from 46Brooklyn

    Medicare
    Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

    Jamie Robinson, Health Economist

    Medical terminology referenced in this episode:


    Novolog

    Questions or comments?
    Email us at comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com.
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    • 46 min
    Interview with Victor Bulto, President, US, Novartis

    Interview with Victor Bulto, President, US, Novartis

    In this important podcast episode, we interview Victor Bulto, President, US for Novartis, to discuss the company's efforts to develop groundbreaking treatments while ensuring accessibility and affordability for patients. We delve into how the pharmaceutical industry navigates numerous post-FDA approval barriers to launch new drugs and the importance of market access, patient support services, and a commitment by manufacturers to provide patient assistance and other support for patients.

    Victor Bulto, President, Novartis

    Novartis

    FDA

    Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER)

    American Heart Association (AHA)

    Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)

    Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM)

    Medicare

    Medical terminology referenced in this episode:

    Cell therapy: CART-T 

    Radioligand therapy

    RNA

    Entresto

    Molecular glues

    Targeted protein degradation

    Antisense oligonucleotides

    Small interfering RNAs: siRNAs

    LDL cholesterol

    COVID

    Hematological malignancies

    Refractory autoimmune diseases

    Questions or comments?
    Email us at comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com.
    Find us on social media! Follow us on X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Threads.

    • 43 min
    Biosimilar's Role in Improving Patient Access

    Biosimilar's Role in Improving Patient Access

    Biosimilars are entering the market at their fastest pace ever. In this episode, we interview a renowned health economist and an expert consultant in biosimilar distribution and patient support to explore the complex landscape of biosimilars, including examining the hurdles and breakthroughs in achieving acceptance by payers and providers and how best to improve patient access and affordability in a market dominated by established brands.

    Dr. Jason Shafrin, Senior Managing Director, Center for Healthcare Economics and Policy at FTI Consulting

    Marina Allen, SVP, Fingerpaint Market Access, Patient Support & Access Strategy Leader in Pharma-Biotech

    Biosimilars

    The Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2009

    PBMs (Pharmacy Benefit Managers)

    Medicare Advantage



    Humira (biosimilars)



    340B program



    Inflation Reduction Act



    Medicare Part D



    "brown bagging and white bagging"



    Mark Cuban (CostPlusDrugs)



    GoodRx



    average sales price (ASP)



    electronic health record (EHR) system

    Questions or comments?
    Email us at comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com.
    Find us on social media! Follow us on X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Threads.

    • 42 min
    2024 Policy Preview: An Interview with Dr. Mark McClellan

    2024 Policy Preview: An Interview with Dr. Mark McClellan

    Scott and Mark welcome Dr. Mark McClellan, a distinguished health policy expert who has served as the Commissioner of the FDA and the Administrator of CMS, to look ahead at the major policy activities in 2024. They discuss how the government's role as regulator and purchaser of drugs will influence the drug industry and the patient's ability to access and afford medicines this year. They also discuss the challenges and opportunities for improving public health and the emerging role of artificial intelligence.

    Dr. Mark McClellan, PhD, Director and Professor of Business, Medicine and Policy at the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University

    IRA

    Medicare Part D

    Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

    Medicare Advantage

    FDA commissioner Rob Califf 

    The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) Part B

    Medicare Modernization Act



    FDA

    FDA's Office of Regulatory Affairs

    Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) 

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

    Per Member Per Month (PMPM) billing 

    Questions or comments?
    Email us at comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com.
    Find us on social media! Follow us on X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Threads.

    • 49 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
16 Ratings

16 Ratings

Stormerb ,

Best podcast with this focus!

Mark and Scott do a great job with relevant topics and great guests. They level the content so it is easy to understand, but then dig into details on appropriate points. I hope they content to produce and share their experiences and expose the knowledge of the great folks in this market. I live the magic wand question…. Keep it!

Sarah Bo. ,

Excellent

Great postcard with clear and precise content. Definitely worth listening if you are interested in the complexity and challenges of the US patient access.

LordReview ,

Excellent podcast

Knowledgeable hosts discussing some of the pre-eminent issues in healthcare today.

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