Logan Lutton

While treatment options are evolving cancer care and extending lifespans, there is still a lack of biomarkers in certain cancers that can help direct treatment or provide early detection.

There is a role for both payers and providers to make small changes that would increase the use of biomarker testing to ensure patients are receiving the appropriate treatment, said Susan Wescott, RPh, MBA, senior director of managed care pharmacy, Mayo Clinic.

Co-pay accumulators and maximizers are 2 programs that insurers have started implementing to help them redirect financial assistance from the patient, said Kimberly Westrich, MA, chief strategy officer, National Pharmaceutical Council.

Bipolar disorder is commonly misdiagnosed depending on the features that present, explained Stephanie Hsia, PharmD, MAEd, BCPP, of University of California, San Francisco.

Although the cost of biomarker testing isn’t cheap, the cost of therapy for patients can be much higher, making it important to conduct these tests to start the right therapy, explained Susan Wescott, RPh, MBA, of Mayo Clinic.