GLG News by Economic Experts on Formulary Designs (US)

William FinkPresidentManaged Care Pharmacy Consultants, Inc

"Health Care Laws by Any Name Will Not Work"

June 15, 2011

You can name the health care laws "ObamaCare", "Palin Care", "Trump Care", "Huckabee Care", or any "Care" you want, but they will not work, because it is not the laws that are messed up it is the public that is messed up.

William FinkPresidentManaged Care Pharmacy Consultants, Inc

PBMs NOT ALWAYS THE BAD GUYS

May 11, 2011

There are many articles written by attorneys explaining how they can write contracts with the PBMs in order to save their clients a great deal of money.

William FinkPresidentManaged Care Pharmacy Consultants, Inc

Does the Teva Cephalon Deal have an unknown problem?

May 3, 2011

Analysis of:Teva to acquire Cephalon in 6.8 Billion Transaction | www.glgroup.com

Teva is embarking on a new and exciting future for its "Branded Business" Teva wants to obtain the "Dollars" from PROVIGIL. Provigil is a very expensive product for Narcolepsy. The price on this product was increased over 40% (approx) a few months ago. I am a clinical pharmacist , and manage pharmacy programs for HMOs and Self Insured Employer Groups. The time is coming when payors will not be able to afford medications with out a large increase in Employees out of pocket expenses.

William FinkPresidentManaged Care Pharmacy Consultants, Inc

Dangers of Methadone Usage

August 28, 2008

Analysis of:Dr. Mark Yergin testifies to Congress | www.nytimes.com

Doctors must be educated on the correct use of Methadone if unnecessary deaths are to be avoided.

William FinkPresidentManaged Care Pharmacy Consultants, Inc

Trends for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

June 26, 2008

Analysis of:Resource Article: “Chronic Kidney Disease Prevalence Increases, Awareness Remains Low,” Drug Benefit Trends (vol. 20, no. 5, May 2008) | jama.ama-assn.org

There will be an increased use of costly diaylsis, especially among those people 70 years or older.  One would think that there would be a greater awareness of a disease consting $31 billion dollars a year.  However, this does not seem to be the case.

William FinkPresidentManaged Care Pharmacy Consultants, Inc

Government Cuts in Funding for DXA in Physicians' Offices May Lead to Difficulties for Rural Patients

May 6, 2008

Analysis of:DXA Reimbursement Reductions: Implications for Quality Osteoporosis Care, Marjorie Luckey, MD and Roberta Biegel (Washington, DC: National Osteoporosis Foundation, Winter 2005) | osteoporosisblogger.com

It is well known that millions of people in the US suffer from osteoporosis which leads directly to debilitating fractures.   Early diagnosis of osteoporosis and low bone mass will help prevent chronic pain and loss of independence.  Once diagnosed, treatment is readily available and effective.  DXA of the hip and spine (central DXA) is the imaging procedure recommended for this diagnosis and monitoring for the effectiveness of treatment.  However, without legistative action, patient access to the central DXA may be compromised.

Dea BelaziPharmacy ConsultantDea Belazi, PharmD, MPH, PAHM

Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents could be further restricted by Payers (Medicare, PBMs, and Healthplans)

January 28, 2008

Analysis of:FDA Receives New Data on Risks of Anemia Drugs | www.fda.gov

Increased FDA warnings on ESAs, suchas Epogen, Procrit and Aranesp will provide payers the ability to further restrict these agents.   Restrictions will come in the form of prior authorizations and other utilization management techniques.

Dea BelaziPharmacy ConsultantDea Belazi, PharmD, MPH, PAHM

Perhaps the Most Important Reason for Exubera Failure is that No One Wanted to Pay for it

October 29, 2007

Analysis of:Pfizer Abandons Exubera, Posts 77% Earnings Decline | online.wsj.com

Pfizers failure on Exubera were not of safety issues, or complicated device, or even consumer marketing problems.  Their biggest issue that brought failure was the lack of payer coverage.  Almost no payer in the US added Exubera to their formulary or saw any value over injectable insulin at the price being commanded by Pfizer.

Dea BelaziPharmacy ConsultantDea Belazi, PharmD, MPH, PAHM

WalMart Expansion of $4 generics

October 3, 2007

Analysis of:Wal-Mart Expands Offerings Of $4 Generic Drugs | online.wsj.com

WalMarts strategy on expanding $4 generics is not at a loss.  They are taking a number of generics (in the hunderds) that are nominaly priced and selling them to consumers and still making a profit. 

Dea BelaziPharmacy ConsultantDea Belazi, PharmD, MPH, PAHM

Indian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

October 3, 2007

Analysis of:Drug discovery hits India | www.icis.com

Indian manufacturers such as Aurabindo, Reddy, Ranbaxy and others are getting on the shelves at the local pharmacies.

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