Modern Healthcare's 10 Most Clicked Articles in 2016

As 2017 quickly approaches Modern Healthcare looked back on their 10 most talked about articles in 2016. The article states, "This collection of stories, ranked by popularity, covers healthcare reform, changes in government health agencies, healthcare finance news and more." 

 

Take a look back on this past year by checking out the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

FDA Update: December 2016

Express Scripts recently published their report of the most recent FDA Update. The team focused on several U.S. Food and Drug Administration approvals for new drugs, generics and indications. The article highlights the following topics: 

Generics to Seroquel XR Launched

New Indication for Enbrel

Vemlidy Approved for Hepatitis B

Opdivo Gains New Indication 

Soliqua and Xultophy Approved for Type 2 Diabetes 

Stay informed by reading the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

 

Healthcare Payer-provider collaboration: Notable partnerships in 2016

Fierce Healthcare recently published an article that highlights the notable healthcare payer-provider collaborations of 2016. Evan Sweeny writes, "Providers and payers continue to chip away at years of built-up distrust through new partnerships aimed at reducing healthcare costs, improving care and perhaps most importantly, sharing data." 

The article focuses on hot topics such as innovation, cancer care and leverage provider partnerships. 

As 2016 comes to close, be sure to check out the full article HERE to gear up for 2017. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

How Self-Funding Can Help Control Rising Specialty Drug Costs

Today's blog features an important article published by EBN that highlights the rise in self-funded healthcare plans. 

"Self-funded insurance plans have risen in popularity in this rapidly changing healthcare market because, for many employers, the numerous advantages they provide outweigh the risks also commonly associated with self-funding," Raymond DePaola. 

Take the time to read through the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

4 Solutions for People with Diabetes

Express Scripts just recently announced that a new partnership will provide a 40% discount on Eli Lilly insulin products for uninsured patients with diabetes. Express Scripts comments, "We have the scale, flexibility and expertise to create innovative solutions that put medicine within reach."

 

"This partnership is one of several initiatives we've developed to address the affordability and accessibility of diabetes treatment, which has been the leading driver of traditional drug spend for five consecutive years."

Check out the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

A new partnership will provide a 40% discount on Eli Lilly insulin products for uninsured patients with diabetes. - See more at: http://lab.express-scripts.com/lab/insights/industry-updates/4-solutions-for-people-with-diabetes?ec_as=1f42cd4cec634f8bbfe77d372037805f#sthash.hAFtT5a3.dpuf

A new partnership will provide a 40% discount on Eli Lilly insulin products for uninsured patients with diabetes. - See more at: http://lab.express-scripts.com/lab/insights/industry-updates/4-solutions-for-people-with-diabetes?ec_as=1f42cd4cec634f8bbfe77d372037805f#sthash.hAFtT5a3.dpuf

Drug Pricing - Is This a Turning Point?

Express Scripts recently published, "Every dollar saved today, is an opportunity to pay for tomorrow’s innovations. To accomplish this goal, we have to come together as an industry, and as a society, to do many things better." 

The article highlights a re-commitment to the social contract that drug makers with patients. There are a few of these drug makers that have decided to make the pledge to the hold the line on drug prices. 

There is no concrete answer on how to solve the issue of high drug prices but these discussions and concrete actions of some drug makers are a strong start. Read the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/    

Value-based Care, an Elusive Concept, Enters the Curriculum

Timothy Smith of the American Medical Association explains, "As the U.S. health care system shifts from payment based on volume to payment based on value, physicians need to learn value-based care at every level of their training, but gaps in the knowledge base exist across the continuum of medical education. A new textbook is the first to provide the instructional basis for incorporating value-based care and other health systems science topics into the curricula for those training to become physicians and other health care professionals. It starts by defining that most elusive term: value." 

Medical students at the Mayo Clinic School of Medicine in Rochester, Minn., are the first to receive this textbook and it has already been incorporated into their curriculum. This such an important headline for the healthcare industry as it recognizes the need for change in making drugs more affordable for patients. 

There is so much more on this topic so be sure to check out the AMA article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

Telemedicine Bill Potential House Vote

Modern Healthcare just recently released the news that the House is expected to vote on a bill that promotes telemedicine and was unanimously passed by the Senate last week.

Joseph Conn or MH explains, "The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes Act, or ECHO Act, co-sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), asks the HHS to study whether telemedicine could promote collaborative clinical learning and disseminate best practices among healthcare professionals, primarily those in medically underserved areas." 

This is incredibly exciting news for the future of healthcare. Read more HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

Patient Assistance Programs Positively Impact Adherence

According the recently published Express Scripts article, Patient Assistance Programs can help patients with various inflammatory conditions and multiple sclerosis overcome financial hardships to taking their medications. 

These conditions are extremely complex that at this time have no cure. With the rising costs of medications to maintain these diseases along with the side effects and comorbidities, patient adherence continues to drop. 

PAPs provide eligible patients with financial assistance for medications that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive. Read more on this article by clicking HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

Treating a Rare Disease Takes a Rare Commitment

Express Scripts recently released an article that stated pulmonary arterial hypertension - high blood pressure in the pulmonary artery to the lungs - is currently incurable. However, patients can live for years with this condition, but only if it is carefully managed with proper therapy. This disease affects 15 to 50 people per million every year, any many times, the cases are from an unknown cause. This disease requires specialized care from a talented team of professionals with a deep understanding as it can literally make the different between life and death. 

Learn about this better understanding, the new form of therapy and the goals of this treatment by reading the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

Medication Therapy Management

According to the Express Scripts article, Medication Therapy Management is the golden thread that can weave efforts together to create a holistic, outcome-driven approach to treating patients. With over 10,000 people aging into Medicare every day, the question becomes how do we improve these outcomes? Simple, by maximizing the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program to drive these improved results. 

Need to know more about MTM? Read the full article HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/    

MTM is the golden thread that can weave these efforts together to create a holistic, outcomes-driven approach to treating patients. - See more at: http://lab.express-scripts.com/lab/insights/government-programs/medication-therapy-management-the-golden-thread#sthash.6ySWGZdW.dpuf

The Trends and Complexities of Provider-Administered Drugs

The recently published article, "The Trends and Complexities of Provider-Administered Drugs" courtesy of Magellan Rx, states that with approximately 50 percent of the $124 billion annual specialty drug spend is billed on the medical benefit. Magellan continues to study this trend displayed in their Medical Pharmacy Trend Report. This report continues to be the only publication of its kind to analyze high-cost injectable drugs paid under medical benefits.

 

Need to know more? Find the full article HERE. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/   

NYeC Digital Health Conference

The healthcare industry is booming with the latest technological innovations. Learn more about the direction that the future of healthcare is going by attending the NYeC Digital Health Care Conference on December 6th-7th, 2016 at the New World Stages in New York. Learn more about the event and how to register by clicking HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Teladoc Treats 50+ Health Conditions

Teladoc has the capability to diagnose and treat over 50 non-emergency health conditions from the comfort of your own home. The five most common illness treated through Teladoc are:

• Upper respiratory infections
• Sinus infections
• Sore throats
• Bronchitis
• Urinary tract infections

Teladoc is by far one of the most innovative solutions that the healthcare industry has seen that provides consumer a simple, more cost effective way of treating illnesses. Read more HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Patients Give Voice To Call For Drug Pricing Transparancy

The American Medical Association recently published an article tackling the topic of sky rocketing drug prices. Individuals are constantly questioning whether they should buy food, pay their bills or purchase their medicine. These are questions that simply should not exist. 

AMA shares, "TruthinRx.org is an interactive website that lends an ear to patients who want to share their stories of how rising prices are affecting their health and finances. The grassroots campaign, launched this month by the AMA, will use patient and physician voices to urge Congress to take action on these growing price increases on medications that, for some people, could mean the difference between life and death." 

Make your voice heard today! To learn more on this topic, please read the full article HERE. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Drugs and Insurance Affordability Will Top the Post Election Agenda

Modern Healthcare recently published an article highlighting the current state of healthcare pricing in regards to the upcoming presidential election. Merrill Goozner writes, "Too little attention is being paid to the main drivers of popular concern--high drug prices and employers' insistence on shifting more healthcare costs onto the backs of their employees." 

This is just the beginning of this topic. To read more, please click here.

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Self-Insurance Is Surging

According to the Benefits Pro article, self-insurance for medical benefits is sometimes seen as a step into the unknown. Companies are taking on more risk, and the potential for catastrophic medical costs can intimidate some business owners. However, many experts say that the potential cost savings outweigh the risk. And with each passing year, more information is available on how companies can best manage that risk — ensuring that employers aren't simply taking a leap of faith.

Take a look at the full article HERE, very interesting read!  

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Teladoc and American Red Cross Partnership

Teladoc is one of the most influential innovations that the healthacare industry has seen in quite some time. Recently, they have teamed up with the American Red Cross to provide disaster victims with remote medical care through the leading telehealth platform. 

Courtesy of Teladoc: 

"Through this pilot collaboration, Teladoc will make its network of physicians available to people helped by the Red Cross whose access to health care providers has been limited or is unavailable after large-scale disasters."

"Teladoc’s virtual physician visit services will be made available via web, Teladoc’s mobile app and phone to address the primary health care needs of individuals affected by disasters. The consultations will make it possible for disaster victims to access needed health services during events in which distance and time are important factors."

Find out more on this partnership by reading the full article HERE. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Double Digit Premimum Hikes Confirmed Beginning Next Year

Premiums will go up sharply next year under President Barack Obama's healthcare law, and many consumers will be down to just one insurer, the administration confirmed Monday.

"Consumers will be faced this year with not only big premium increases but also with a declining number of insurers participating, and that will lead to a tumultuous open enrollment period," said Larry Levitt, who tracks the health care law for the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.

 

 There is much more information on this topic. Please click here to learn more!  

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

 

The Dark Side of Copay Coupons

According to Express Scripts, drug copay coupons, promoted by manufacturers of brand-name medications, may seem like a good deal for patients. But there's another side to the story. 

Pharmaceutical manufacturers’ promotion of copay coupons undermine the utilization and cost-controlling programs that enable a sustainable pharmacy benefit for patients and plan sponsors.

This marketing tactic reimburses patients who have prescription-drug coverage for the cost of their copay if they choose the higher-priced brand drug instead of the option preferred by their plan sponsor.

 

This is ongoing issue. To learn more about how copay coupons contribute to pharmacy waste and the healthcare industry's reaction, please click here. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

Drug Coupons: Helping a Few at the Expense of Everyone

Drug coupons. Seems like a great idea to offer discounts to patients with various medical issues to help medications be more affordable. However, according to the New York Times, new research suggests that co-payment coupons can actually increase total health care spending by encouraging patients to choose more expensive drugs when there are lower-priced substitutes available. Those high costs can then boomerang back to patients in the form of higher insurance premiums.

To learn more about this emerging headline, be sure to check out the full article HERE. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

 

Helping Primary Physcians in the Movement to Value-Based Care

Ron Williams of Forbes Health recently launched the article that highlights how to get primary care doctors in the movement of value-based care for their patients. He says, "Value-based care continues to be an area of emphasis, and more efforts are being made to transition doctors and hospitals to this payment structure. There is belief, and some evidence, that we may be able to substantially improve the quality of care provided to patients while reducing the total cost of care. To accomplish this, we must empower primary care physicians with the tools, technology, processes and appropriate financial incentives to help transform the system." 

Value-based care is a phrase that we've been hearing repeatedly over and over again in the health care industry. Check out the full article HERE to stay informed. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

HORIZON Health Ventures' Featured Product: Retiree Medical & Prescription Drug Benefits

Today's blog highlights another product of HHV that continues to benefit their clients. HORIZON Health Ventures, LLC provides group retiree medical and prescription drug benefits exclusively through Benistar Admin Services, Inc.

Benistar is a nationwide leader in the design, installation and administration of post-65 retiree benefits including both fully insured and self funded Employer Group Waiver Plans (EGWP). Together with HORIZON Health Ventures, they work with brokers and consultants to provide retiree medical and prescription drug solutions for organizations nationwide.

 

As your retiree benefits partner Benistar will:

• Provide retiree administrative services that meet or exceed the needs of retirees and plan sponsors
• Maximize accuracy within a complex, dynamic environment
• Minimize administrative requirements of maintaining retiree plans
• Actively manage the rising cost of retiree benefits coverage

RDS Reopening 

As part of the HORIZON suite of Retiree Medical and Pharmacy services, we also provide our clients who have filed or continue to file for the Retiree Drug Subsidy (RDS) with RDS Reopening Services. RDS Reopening is a process that allows Plan Sponsors to go back and “reopen” past reconciled plan years to see if they captured all eligible members and eligible prescription drugs that qualify for Retiree Drug Subsidy under the CMS RDS Program.

This is just a sneak peak on both of these products. To learn more, please click HERE!

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/  

The Solutions to America's Drug Cost Dilemma

Harris Meyer of Modern Healthcare recently wrote an in-depth article highlighting the issues of America's drug cost problem and how the two Presidential nominees plan to solve it. Congress continues to question drug company executives over their giant price hikes, but yet little seems to be resolved. There is so much information in this article that in order to keep up with this current headline, you must click HERE.

 
HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/ 

Cancer Survivorship Requires Ongoing Care

With early screenings, better detection methods, improved treatment regimens and new drug therapies, patients are living longer after a cancer diagnosis than ever before according to Express Scripts. 

Many people consider “cancer survivorship” as a patient’s life after cancer is cured. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define a cancer survivor as “a person who has been diagnosed with cancer, from the time of diagnosis until the end of life.” This means living with cancer, surviving it and all its complications.

 

Positive growth in survivorship along with specialized care for cancer survivors has produced positive results. Please read the full article here!

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/ 

HORIZON Health Ventures Featured Product: Population Health & Cost Management Solutions

Today's blog highlights another one HORIZON Health Ventures' products. An integral part of HORIZON Health Ventures, LLC's suite of solutions includes the delivery of population health management and cost containment services. In concert with their premier service partners, it is HORIZON's goal to positively impact quality, cost and outcomes in healthcare.

Population Health Management Services: 

Medical Bill Review

HORIZON Health Ventures' Medical Bill Review (MBR) is an industry changing solution, allowing employers to significantly reduce expenses for hospital and facility claims. MBR provides a transparent, equitable alternative to today’s ever-rising and traditionally unchallenged hospital and facility bill mark-ups. 

Reference Based Reimbursement 

As an alternative to MBR, AMPS also delivers an industry changing solution, Reference Based Reimbursement (RBR). RBR provides an equitable alternative to today’s ever rising and traditionally unchallenged hospital bill mark-ups. Using multiple data points including Medicare rates, cost-to-charge ratios, and over nine years of historical data as its baseline, RBR ensures fair reimbursement for member, plan and provider.

To learn more about these producsts and how they can positively impact YOUR business, please click HERE! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

Surviving The Digital Health Era

According to Mobi Health News, in today's healthcare environment, insurers may see the value of digital health, but decades old infrastructure, workflows and IT departments may be holding them back from fully embracing the technological innovations that doctors and patients want and need. 

"Going digital could have a $300 billion impact on the healthcare industry, and that all starts with the consumer." - Basel Kayyali, senior partner at the business consulting firm, McKinsey & Company. 

To read more on this headline, please click HERE!

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

FDA Update: September 2016

Courtesy of Express Scripts, we have your FDA Update for this month.

• Abuse-Deterrent Troxyca ER Approved
• First Generic Approved for Tamiflu 
• Keytruda Labeling Extended 
• MedWatch Update: PharmaTech Recall Expanded. 

There is much more information on each of these updates so be sure to check out the full article HERE. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

Physician Efforts to Reverse Opioid Epidemic Quantified

When patients present with issues, physicians look to the most effective tools for treatment. The same is true in addressing an epidemic. While much more work remains to reverse the nation’s opioid epidemic, using tools such as prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP), medication-assisted treatment and naloxone, physicians are making progress. A new fact sheet courtesy of the American Medical Association provides some evidence of that progress on a number of fronts.

Combining focused prescribing practices, education and medicated assisted treatment increases, and the use of Naloxone to reduce overdoses, there seems to be optimism in combating this epidemic. Be sure to read the AMA published article HERE to learn more!  

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

HORIZON Health Ventures Featured Product: Performance Pharmacy Solutions

Instead of bringing you a healthcare headline, today we wanted to feature one of our most products at HORIZON Health Ventures, Performance Pharmacy Solutions. Performance Pharmacy Solutions℠ (PPS) is HORIZON Health Ventures, LLC pharmacy benefit management service. Delivered exclusively through some of the nation's largest and most respected pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), our partners provide pharmacy services to more than 70% of all Americans, delivering access to retail, home delivery and Specialty pharmacy distribution. With guidance and ongoing oversight from HORIZON, our service providers develop and flawlessly implement proven solutions to address today's pharmacy challenges.

To find out how PPS can help your business SAVE valuable money on your employees healthcare costs, please visit: http://horizonhealthventures.com/performance-pharmacy-solutions

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

Allergan CEO Lays Out Plan to Buck Trend of Rising Drug Prices

The American Pharmacists Association recently published the Bloomburg article, "Allergan CEO Lays Out Plan to Buck Trend of Rising Drug Prices" in their most recent newsletter. CEO Brent Saunders explains that Allergan will raise prices on its products only once a year, and increases will be limited to the single-digit percentage range.

Allergan will raise prices on its products only once a year, and increases will be limited to the single-digit percentage range, says CEO Brent Saunders. Saunders also remarked that the pharmaceutical industry has a "social contract" with patients, including an understanding that drugs should be priced to be accessible while providing profits to fuel research and development. The company will not raise prices dramatically on drugs that are about to lose patent protection and face generic competition, unless it has made investments that would justify such an increase. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

Health Insurers Enter EpiPen Battle With Infographic

America's Health Insurance Plans has been working for years to tell health policymakers, and voters, that drug companies have been contributing more than other players to high health care prices.

Now, the Washington, D.C.-based insurer trade group is pegging a new campaign to the controversy over the dramatic increase in the cost of EpiPen devices.

 

AHIP is encouraging news organizations to post and link to an infographic it prepared that shows how prices for seven important drugs changed between 2007 and 2014. LifeHealthPro has the full article, so be sure to check it out here. 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

FDA Approves Third Biosimilar

All information courtesy of Magellan, Rx 

ErelziTM, a biosimilar to Enbrel®, FDA approved
News Alert:

• On August 30, 2016, Sandoz (a Novartis division) received FDA approval for etanercept-szzs (Erelzi).
  
• This communication is preliminary based on information available at this time.
  Highlights:
  
  • Erelzi is biosimilar to Amgen’s reference product etanercept (Enbrel).
    
  • Erelzi is not interchangeable with Enbrel.
    
  • Erelzi – Third biosimilar approved in the U.S.
    
    • –  Sandoz’s filgrastim-sndz (Zarxio®) was the first (approved in March 2015).
      
    • –  Pfizer’s infliximab-dyyb (InflectraTM) was the second (approved in April 2016).
      
  • On July 13, 2016, the FDA’s Arthritis Advisory Committee panel voted 20 to 0, in favor of the FDA
    approving Erelzi across all indications of the reference product.
    
  • Per the FDA’s definition of a biosimilar, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha inhibitor Erelzi has demonstrated no clinically meaningful differences to Enbrel in terms of the safety, purity, and potency.
    
  • The FDA’s approval was based on reviews of evidence ranging from analytical, nonclinical, and clinical data, to human pharmacokinetic data and other clinical safety and effectiveness data, which demonstrates Erelzi is biosimilar to Enbrel.
    
  • Erelzi indications:
    
    • –  Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
      
    • –  Polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in ages ≥ 2 years
      
    • –  Psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
      
    • –  Ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
      
    • –  Plaque psoriasis (PsO)
      
  • Erelzi was granted all of Enbrel’s indications.
    
  • Erelzi solution was approved as 25 mg/0.5 mL and 50 mg/mL single-dose (SD) prefilled (PF) syringes
    and as a 50 mg/mL SD PF pen.
    
  • Self-administered by subcutaneous injection.
    

Market Dynamics:

• Launch: To be determined, but not expected in the near future.
  
  • –  Under an August 11, 2016 court order, the manufacturers agreed to a preliminary injunction
    blocking the launch of Erelzi.
    
  • –  Depending on court rulings/patent appeals, there is a possibility of launch in 4Q2018 or April 2029.
    
• Price: To be determined. Market Impact:
  Erelzi marks the third biosimilar approved in the U.S. following Zarxio, also from Sandoz, and Pfizer’s Inflectra. However, the only biosimilar currently available on the U.S. market is Zarxio. The launch of Inflectra is pending. Erelzi is not interchangeable to Enbrel, since the FDA is still reviewing its guidance on interchangeability. The agency has also recently issued draft guidance for both nonproprietary naming and biosimilar labels. As the regulatory component evolves, there will be further clarity with biosimilar development and market adoption. Though approved, at the earliest, the market launch of Erelzi is not expected until 4Q2018. Court rulings and intellectual property considerations will ultimately impact Erelzi’s launch. Erelzi offers an alternative, potentially more affordable, treatment option to Enbrel for patients with select chronic autoimmune diseases. The pipeline of biosimilars is expected to grow. This competition will offer cost savings and an opportunity to improve patient access to critical medications.
  Magellan Rx Management Action:
  Magellan Rx Management is evaluating this new product and will follow up with clinical updates, management strategies, and financial guidance. Magellan Rx Management will also continue to closely monitor the biosimilar landscape and provide updates as appropriate.
  Links:
  

• FDA News Release: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm518639.htm.
  
• Novartis Press Release: https://www.novartis.com/news/media-releases/fda-approves-sandoz- erelzitm-treat-multiple-inflammatory-diseases.
  
• Erelzi Label: http://www.us.sandoz.com/cs/www.us.sandoz.com.wls10/assets/media/shared/documents/Erelzi_PI_ MG_IFU.pdf.
  

Express Scripts Promises Clients Caps On Diabetes Spending

Express Scripts Holding Co. is rolling out a new program with the goal of lowering the cost of diabetes care for its clients by implementing spending caps.

The program, which launches March 1, introduces a multifaceted approach to cut spending — and makes bold promises to the company’s clients, including employers, insurance carriers and government agencies. 

There is much, much more on this topic so to read more please click here! 

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/

5 Reasons Prescription Drug Prices Are So High in the U.S.

The “most important factor” that drives prescription drug prices higher in the United States than anywhere else in the world is the existence of government-protected “monopoly” rights for drug manufacturers, researchers at Harvard Medical School report today.

The researchers reviewed thousands of studies published from January 2005 through July 2016 in an attempt to simplify and explain what has caused America’s drug price crisis and how to solve it. They found that the problem has deep and complicated roots and published their findings in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. The study was funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation with additional support provided by the Engelberg Foundation.

 

To learn more on this headline, please read the Yahoo Finance published article, "5 Reasons Prescription Drug Prices Are So High In The U.S.".

HORIZON Health Ventures is a healthcare cost management solutions company used by insurance brokers, employee benefit consultants, third-party administrators, insurance companies, and associations, to bring proven thought leadership and strategy to the management of their clients healthcare costs. To learn more about HHV and their services, please visit http://horizonhealthventures.com/