Interviews

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.

Seth Southwick, MHA, Intermountain Health, discusses in detail the power of leveraging community partnerships and advanced data analytic systems to optimize kidney care.

A lot of attention has been on the drug price negotiation aspects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), but the implementation of out-of-pocket smoothing is something to keep an eye on, said Adam Colborn, JD, of AMCP.

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

At our recent Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in Boston, Hari Deshpande, MD, Yale Cancer Center, presented on predictive biomarkers in sarcomas.

As a result of vertical integration, health plans may have 2 different coverage policies on the medical benefit side and the pharmacy benefit side for the same drug.

Miriam Godwin, CMMI, National Kidney Foundation, touches on the gaps in kidney care that public policy can address, as well as the importance of thinking about the long-term benefits of value-based care.

Patients with schizophrenia have a lot of life-changing consequences when they are being treated properly, and these are only amplified when the patient goes untreated, explained Megan Ehret, PharmD, of University of Maryland, School of Pharmacy.

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.

There are many misconceptions patients might have about clinical trials that prevent them from participating, and it’s important to understand what they are in order to overcome them, said Terry L. Keys, of University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center.

Allowing patients to stay in their homes to receive bispecific antibodies can make the whole cancer journey easier, explained Courtney VanHouzen, PharmD, of Cowell Family Cancer Center, Munson Healthcare.

Financial advocacy in health care should advocate for system change and community work to give people better access to health and well-being before they get a life-changing cancer diagnosis, said Nadine J. Barrett, PhD, MA, MS, FACCC, of Wake Forest University and the Association of Cancer Care Centers.

Naoto T. Ueno, MD, PhD, FACP, of the University of Hawai’I Cancer Center outlines the underrepresentation in clinical trials, the lack of permanent medical oncologists, and issues of trust affecting care for the populations living in Hawaii.

One of the key highlights was the discussion of Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERT), addressing controversies in PE management and focusing on personalized, patient-centered care.

During CHEST 2024, Maxine Dexter, MD, Kaiser Permanente, discussed her belief in the vital role of physicians in public health advocacy, drawing from her legislative work on issues as a former Oregon State Representative.

Ticiana Leal, MD, Winship Cancer Institutes, explains the importance of biomarker testing and multidisciplinary conversations while caring for patients with early-stage non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Anna-Maria Hoffmann-Vold, MD, PhD, a senior consultant and leader of inflammatory and fibrotic research area at Oslo University Hospital, discusses therapies and management guidelines for patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Io Hui, PhD, researcher at The University of Edinburgh, discusses challenges to implementing artificial intelligence in respiratory care.

Klaus Rabe, MD, PhD, chest physician and professor of medicine, University of Kiel, discusses the potential of tailored treatment strategies and the importance of smoking cessation.

In this interview from our Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in Boston, we speak with Michael Hassett, MD, MPH, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, on the clinical significance and cost implications of HER2 in the breast cancer space.

Speakers from across the care continuum will discuss legislative updates, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) use for weight management, and more at this year’s AMCP Nexus.

The theme of our inaugural regional Institute for Value-Based Medicine® event in Boston was, “Elevating Value in Cancer Care,” and one of the 4 panel discussions focused on the important contributions of pharmacists and the practice of pharmacy to the oncology space.

CHEST 2024 late-breaking data showcased the potential of AI-based systems in diagnosing and managing pulmonary embolism.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) presents a significant challenge for both patients and health care providers and discussions of effective management strategies took center stage at CHEST 2024 in Boston.

Hope is on the horizon for patients living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CHEST 2024 in Boston featured a session highlighting emerging bronchoscopic therapies.

New data presented at CHEST 2024 in Boston revealed a significant link between obstructive sleep apnea and mental health disorders in middle-aged and older adults.

Krunal Patel, MD, Temple University Hospital, highlights CHEST 2024 data revealing why timing matters with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) intervention.