Trends and Policy Developments in the Management of Pharmaceutical Costs and Pharmacy Benefits
Panel
Panel 3: Drug Cost and Access I
Moderator
Paul Subar, Associate Professor and Chair of Department of Diagnostic Sciences, University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
Description
Pharmaceutical pricing is an important issue for those that pay for health care services (employers, government programs, individuals). There are several types of mechanisms that PBMs can use to help plan sponsors put downward pressure on rising costs. These PBM tools will be examined, including how they have impacted state Medicaid programs across the country. The state and federal governments have also become very active in looking at the pharmaceutical supply chain. These legislative and regulatory trends will also be discussed.
Location
Pacific McGeorge School of Law, Lecture Hall, 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, CA
Trends and Policy Developments in the Management of Pharmaceutical Costs and Pharmacy Benefits
Pacific McGeorge School of Law, Lecture Hall, 3200 Fifth Ave., Sacramento, CA
Pharmaceutical pricing is an important issue for those that pay for health care services (employers, government programs, individuals). There are several types of mechanisms that PBMs can use to help plan sponsors put downward pressure on rising costs. These PBM tools will be examined, including how they have impacted state Medicaid programs across the country. The state and federal governments have also become very active in looking at the pharmaceutical supply chain. These legislative and regulatory trends will also be discussed.
Speaker Bio
April Alexander is Assistant Vice President of State Affairs for PCMA. PCMA is the national trade association representing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer outpatient prescription drug benefits on behalf of public and private payers across the country. Ms. Alexander leads industry advocacy on state regulations impacting PBMs and leads legislative advocacy activities in multiple states. She also represents PCMA at a variety of national political and policy-focused intergovernmental organizations. Prior to joining PCMA, Ms. Alexander managed legislative and regulatory advocacy in the western U.S. at a large, multistate Medicaid managed care organization, and before that, served as a regulator at the California Department of Managed Health Care.