Serving managed care, health-system and specialty decision makers Volume 11 • Number 2 • March/April 2022 • specialtypharmacycontinuum.com
UP FRONT
Sterile compounding a hot topic at NHIA 2022 Annual Conference ........ 4 POLICY
7 habits of highly effective surface sampling programs ........
5
OPERATIONS & MGMT
Will Mark Cuban score with new discount drug plan? ....
16
The ‘OG women’ of health-system specialty pharmacy .....
18
TECHNOLOGY
Are digital tools the key to gaining provider access? ..........
22
REVIEW ARTICLES
Management of Pumonary Arterial Hypertension See page 12.
PBM Probe Continues Despite FTC Vote Delay
SP Onc PharmDs Bolster 340B, New Med Access
By Karen Blum
By Karen Blum
T
E
he Federal Trade Commission’s February 2-2 vote that put off investigating pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) was disappointing to some stakeholders. But the issue isn’t over: The agency opened a docket for public comment, and advocacy organizations are continuing to stress the importance of pharmacists speaking up about any abuses they have experienced. The vote signaled the FTC’s interest in addressing PBM practices, said Tom Kraus, MHS, JD, the vice president of government relations for ASHP, during the FTC hearing. “It’s disappointing that they were deadlocked and did not vote to require the PBMs to provide information,” Mr. Kraus said. “However, they have since opened an opportunity for pharmacies and hospitals to submit information directly to the FTC about their experiences, and any abuses by PBMs. So there’s at least an opportunity for some inquiry. I’m hopeful that once some of those comments are reviewed, … they will reconsider their initial vote.” On Feb. 24, the FTC posted a public docket to request information on PBM practices in areas such as contract terms, rebates, fees, pricing policies, steering methods and conflicts of interest. The request for information “will enable agency staff to study a wide array of PBM business practices and issues and will help inform the agency’s policy and enforcement work,” an FTC press release said. As of March 23, 234 comments from patients, care providers and pharmacists/pharmacies have been submitted. Continued on page 7
Pharmacists’ Role in The Management of Chronic GVHD
mbedding specialty pharmacy staff in oncology clinics can hasten patients’ receipt of new specialty medications and increase the capture rate of 340B-eligible prescriptions, according to new research. Patients received their medications more than three days faster on average after specialty pharmacists were embedded in clinics, according to a retrospective chart review by AMITA Health, in Hinsdale, Ill. Moreover, the capture rate of 340B-eligible prescriptions increased from 17.65% in 2018 (before pharmacists were embedded) to Continued on page 15
Software program streamlines process amid COVID-19
Student-Led PA Team Speeds HCV Rx Access By Karen Blum
A
s COVID-19 cases continue to plummet, there still are lessons to be learned about optimizing pharmacy operations amid the pandemic. A case in point: As COVID-19 forced many nonessential healthcare personnel to adapt to new hybrid or remote work schedules, the hepatitis C virus (HCV) prior authorization (PA) team at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System realized it was time for a much-needed workflow redesign.
See insert after page 12.
Continued on page 21
NEW PRODUCT Medi-Dose, Inc./EPS, Inc. announces new line of USP <800> labels See page 7.