Learn about the latest trends and activities through our blog posts.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) star ratings system was created in 2007 for insurance plans operating under both the Medicare Advantage and Part D. This 1 to 5 system (with 5 being the highest rating) is a way for CMS to measure the value of a plan and determine whether to continue to allow it to be part of the program. However, it’s more than just the plan, since the plan’s providers play a key role in how CMS evaluates each plan.
Read MoreWe are out with our December 2019 newsletter. This edition covers data oversight, a Medicaid white paper and upcoming webinars.
Read MoreBack in April 2019 we published an article through Specialty Pharmacy Times titled “Don’t Ignore the Steady Drumbeat of Drug Importation?” Click here to read the article
However; we have been noticing lately that there is a lot more chatter on importation, especially from the Administration.
Read MoreOur recently recorded webinar with WellSky is now available.
Read MoreWe have a new webinar on December 4, 2019 via the American College of Apothecaries (ACA) on CBD.
Read MoreWe have a new article in the American College of Apothecaries (ACA) titled “What’s Next for DIR Policy?”
Read MoreRon Lanton III, Esq. of Lanton Law discusses with Specialty Pharmacy Times the specialty pharmacist's role in educating patients about biosimilars and biologics
Read MoreWith the release of the Administration’s American Patient’s First Blueprint in May 2018, price transparency was shown to be a centerpiece of the Administration’s governing agenda. Last week, the Administration released two rules, each at different points of the rulemaking process.
Read MoreCongresswoman Amy Spanberger (D-VA) has sponsored H.R. 2115 titled “Public Disclosure of Drug Discounts and Real-Time Beneficiary Drug Cost Act.” This is important for healthcare stakeholders, as this proposed legislation requires greater transparency for discounts provided by manufacturers. This bill also proposes to include real-time benefit information as part of a prescription drug plan’s electronic prescription program under Medicare.
Read MoreFollowing the launch of sofosbuvir (Sovaldi) in 2013, the pharmaceutical industry has been in the crosshairs of the government because of the drug's cost. Many industry stakeholders have been wrestling with difficult questions: How should the fair value of a drug be determined? What should the cost be for better outcomes? How much should a drug cost if it extends life? We have seen some political solutions advanced, such as the International Pricing Index, the Rebate Rule, and others, but no silver bullet to controlling costs has manifested to date.
Read MoreRon Lanton III, Esq., discusses the specialty pharmacist's role in educating patients about biosimilars and biologics.
Read MoreCheck out Ron Lanton’s interview with Specialty Pharmacy Times on “The Challenges to Launching Biosimilars” https://www.pharmacytimes.com/news/challenges-to-launching-biosimilars
Read MoreWatch Ron Lanton give Specialty Pharmacy Times his insight on the Prescription Drug Price Relief Act.
Read MoreCannabidiol (CBD) has certainly drawn significant attention over the past few months. Marked by the recent passage of the Farm Bill and the FDA’s hearing on CBD at the end of May, the curiosity about and demand for the products have never been stronger. Unfortunately, misinformation on the effects of CBD remains rampant, including details on whether combining CBD with food affects the body’s absorption and conflicting reports on the various differences in state regulation.
Read MoreFor years we have witnessed the fierce debate over whether the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is serving the best interests of the United States. In following up on a 2016 campaign promise to renegotiate NAFTA, the new NAFTA, called the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), is currently being debated by Congress, and there are concerns as to whether the agreement will be ratified.
Read MoreJust prior to an election season, it is not surprising to see a few bills emerge as potential silver bullets to solve pressing policy issues. The latest issue that has consumed the public for several years is how to lower drug prices. While policymakers have raised a series of threats to the industry, such as having Medicare negotiate drug prices, getting rid of drug rebates, and the specter of importation, none of these threats have yet to materialize into any meaningful legislation. What has remained consistent is the intrigue of biosimilars and whether finding ways to increase their utilization in the market could provide the elusive key to lowering drug costs. Two Congressional bills have recently emerged illustrating this desire.
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