How Can Brokers Help Clients Address the Opioid Epidemic

Today's blog features a recently published Benefits Pro article that address the brokers role in the opioid epidemic. Jennifer Fuhrmann references a recent CDC report throughout her article that takes a closer look at various areas that are affected by opioid use. The problem continues to be undeniable. Benefits Pro lists out three primary solutions to this epidemic.

Find these solutions in the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

FDA Approves New Tool For Sharing Information that Allows Doctors to Better Manage Medications

Today's blog features the new tool that the FDA just recently approved that will allow doctors to better manage antibiotic use. 

“Antimicrobial resistance remains one of our most pressing public health challenges. While we’re continuing our policy efforts to encourage the development of new drugs and limit the use of antibiotics in livestock, we also need to take new steps to encourage more appropriate use of these treatments in patient care,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. 

Very interesting read. To read the full article, please click HERE!


Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

FDA Approves New Drug to Treat Diabetes

Today's blog features the news that the FDA recently approved a new drug to treat diabetes. Admelog is the first short-acting "follow-on" insulin product to improve control in blood sugar levels in adults and pediatric patients.

“With today’s approval, we are providing an important short-acting insulin option for patients that meets our standards for safety and effectiveness,” said Mary T. Thanh Hai, M.D., deputy director of the Office of New Drug Evaluation II in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.

To learn more about this new drug please read the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Reducing Medication Errors in The Hospital: What's the Best Way?

Today's blog features an important conversation brought up by Pharmacy Times that highlights the importance of finding a solution to reducing medication errors in the hospital. At the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) Midyear Clinical Meeting, different options were discussed to help fight this issue. These options included creating health systems that can work to reduce preventable errors by implementing medication safety programs that evaluate risk factors contributing to medication errors and then developing control practices to mitigate them. 

Laura Mark, PharmD, who is with Allegheny Health Network (AHN) remarks, "To ensure dosing administration accuracy, bar-code technology and the use of ready-to-dose formulations, such as premixed IV products, can be effective. Other medication management tips discussed this week included an electronic health record systems for prescriptions, a well-developed IV Pump Library for administration, and computerized physician order entry (CPOE), and technology assisted workflow (TAWF) systems." 

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

CVS and Aetna Seek Community-Based Care Model

Today's blog features the Modern Healthcare article that highlights the multi-billion deal with CVS and Aetna. The two companies are changing the course in which patients access healthcare in hopes of creating a new kind of model that's lower in cost and more convenient to the consumer.

"At the center of this strategy is what's commonly called the new front door to healthcare: the walk-in clinic, and CVS has nearly 10,000 of them. Late Sunday, Pharmacy chain and benefit manager CVS and insurer Aetna announced what would be the largest healthcare transaction to date, if approved by regulators and shareholders."

To read the full article, please click HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Adoption of Value-Based Models Increasing, But Obstacles Remain

Marlene Satter of Benefits Pro writes that although value-based payments are on the rise, the way for a quick adoption still hasn't been made clear among family physician practices.

A study out of the American Academy of Family Physicians and Human Inc. found that while 54 percent of family physicians indicate their practices participate in value-based payment models and half believe value-based payment models will encourage greater collaboration between primary care physicians and specialists, there are still issues that must be resolved before broader acceptance occurs.

Need to know more? Read the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Market Makers Reveal Real 2018 Individual Health Rates

Allison Bell of Benefits Pro recently published an article that reveals how two large health insurance market makers say customers who have to pay the full cost of their individual major medical coverage themselves will face large increases in premium bills for 2018 coverage.

Bell continues, "For consumers who qualify to use Affordable Care Act advance premium tax credits, however, average increases in out-of-pocket spending may be under 10 percent."

To read the full article, please click HERE!  

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Opioid Epidemic Took $95 Billion from Economy in 2016

The opioid epidemic is spiraling out of control on all fronts. As if the human cost wasn't enough, the financial cost of this epidemic cost the economy $95 billion in 2016 according to a new analysis from Altarum.

Benefits Pro writer, Marlene Satter writes, "The costs, according to the analysis, break down this way: the vast majority—$43.2 billion—came from losses in the workforce due to deaths from opioids, the analysis found. Another $12.4 billion accounted for lost productivity from surviving opioid addicts. And within the health-care industry, costs from the epidemic were concentrated in emergency room visits, hospital admissions, ambulance use and Naloxone use." 

Read the full article HERE! 

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Digital Respiratory Care Helps Patients Breathe Easier

Today's blog features the Express Scripts' article that details their partnership with Propeller Health, which will be providing digital Bluetooth devices to patients with asthma or COPD to ensure better adherence, track symptoms and triggers and receive clinical support.

Express Scripts' writes, "Propeller’s digital devices enable remote monitoring for patients enrolled in Express Scripts’ Pulmonary Care Value ProgramSM (PCV), which combines specialized pulmonary pharmacist clinical support, patient engagement and quality-based pharmacy networks to improve patient care while lowering healthcare costs." 

To learn more about this new partnership, read the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

What's the Real Cost of the Flu?

Catching the flu can really put a hole in your financial situation. Less and less adults receive a flu shot every year and at the same time an estimated 24.5 million were stricken with the flu, resulting in 11 million medical visits, 308,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths according to CNBC. As a financial result, $10.4 billion dollars was spent in direct costs for hospitalizations and outpatient visits for adults. 

"You protect yourself with insurance for other risks, the flu shot is like insurance," Chris Chen, Wealth Strategist for Insight Financial Strategies explains. 

Learn more by reading the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

FDA Update: November 2017

Every month we like to bring you the latest FDA updates regarding new drugs, generics, indicators, strengths, and dosage forms. Express Scripts provides us with all these drugs in the pipeline so you can continue to stay informed on the latest.

To read the full list, please click HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

FDA Approves First Treatment for Rare Blood Cancer

Today's blog features the FDA announcement regarding the first treatment for a rare blood cancer. Certain adults patients with Erdheim-Chester Disease can now be treated with Vemurafenib. This therapy is a kinase inhibitor that works by blocking certain enzymes that promote cell growth.

To learn more on this drug, please read the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

How Much do Consumers Know About Their Insurance Coverage?

Today's blog features the recent Benefits Pro article that takes a closer look into how much consumers really know about their health insurance coverage.

"The health insurance landscape is changing rapidly, and the burden continues to shift to the patient in the form of higher deductibles and narrower networks,” says Oliver Kharraz, MD, Zocdoc founder and CEO. “These changes make it even more important to provide patients with digital tools that help them find in-network doctors.”

There's much more information on this topic, so please be sure to read the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Tips for Safe Prescription Drug Use at Home

Today's blog features an article that's relevant in today's society. With the opioid epidemic being declared a National Emergency it's important to teach kids safe prescription drug use at home.

Express Scripts writes, "According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 million children under the age of 5 are exposed to potentially poisonous medications and household chemicals every year. And more than 60,000 young children end up in the emergency room each year from wrongly ingesting medications." 

Find all of the safety tips in the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Statin Use Raises Diabetes Risk 'Even in High-Risk Patients'

Today's blog features a headline that's been featured quite a few times across all healthacare news outlets. Medscape recently published an article that highlights the effects of long-term statin use among high-risk Type 2 diabetes patients.

Liam Davenport of Medscape writes, "Studies show that over 10 years, statin use was linked to a 36% increased risk of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, falling to 27% after taking into account baseline risk factors and clinical criteria used to determine the need for statins. The findings are consistent with previous studies suggesting that statin use substantially increases the risk of type 2 diabetes." 

Learn more about this study by reading the full article HERE! 

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Biosimilars

Today's blog features a recent U.S. Food & Drug Administration article that highlights the benefits of biosimilars. Biosimilars were created as a way for patients to receive the perscriptions they need at a fraction of the name brand cost. 

The FDA writes, "FDA requires biosimilar and interchangeable biological products meet the Agency’s rigorous approval standards. That means patients and health care professionals will be able to rely upon the safety and effectiveness of the biosimilar or interchangeable product, just as they would the reference product." 

To read the full article, please click HERE! 

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

A Dose of Good Knowledge

Today's blog features a special "Ask the Pharmacist" edition courtesy of Express Scripts. Express Scripts prides themselves on the idea of practicing pharmacy smarter and has provided a list resources that complimented a list of the ten most read topics. The topics range from safe opioid practices to the role of rescue inhalers.

To find the full list please click HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

New California Law Challenges ‘Evils’ of Pharma Profits

Today's blog features the Benefits Pro article that highlights the recent move made by California governor, Jerry Brown who defied the drug industry yesterday by signing a sweeping drug price transparency bill that will force drug makers to publicly justify big price hikes.

Brown states, “Californians have a right to know why their medical costs are out of control, especially when pharmaceutical profits are soaring. This measure is a step at bringing transparency, truth, exposure to a very important part of our lives. That is the cost of prescription drugs.”

Read the full article HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

Super Spending: Caring for People Whose Needs are Greatest

Today's blog features the recently published Express Scripts article that references Tuesday's blog post. We can all relate as most everyone personally knows someone who has relied on $50,000 or more worth of prescription medications last year. This population of individuals with extraordinarily high medications costs is becoming less rare at a very fast pace.

Express Scripts writes, "We need to keep tightly managing pharmacy spend to make room for more expensive therapies. We also need responsible pricing for medications, more competition in classes with limited therapeutic options, and smarter policies so payers continue to care for all patients, and so patients can continue to afford the treatments they need." 

To read more, please click HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings. 

FDA Acts to Encourage Generic Competition for Complex Drugs

Today's blog features an important article out of Modern Healthcare. The FDA is currently working to reduce high drug costs by encouraging the development of generic versions of hard-to-make medicines. This is not an easy or timely process.

"Difficulty in creating copies or near-copies of such drugs and getting them approved may deter generic companies from even trying, FDA Commissinoer Dr. Scott Gottlieb wrote in a blog post. That means patients don't get access to cheaper verisons of those drugs and brand-name medicine makers continue to rake in money, often billions of dollars a year per drug."

To read more, please click HERE!

Performance Pharmacy Solutions (PPS) is a unique pharmacy benefit procurement platform developed by HORIZON Health Ventures to efficiently and effectively place, manage and oversee our self-funded client's pharmacy benefit management programs. The PPS platform provides turnkey solutions with proven market-leading PBM partners that offer, on average, 10-15% savings.