Briana Contreras

Articles by Briana Contreras

In a session presented at the AMCP Nexus 2023 conference in Orlando, Adam Colborn, JD, director of Government Relations at AMCP, discussed how the recent ERISA preemption rule influenced employer pharmacy benefits, and also highlighted a policy that hasn't received much attention in the managed care pharmacy space: California's CalRx Biosimilar Insulin Initiative.

Adam Colborn, JD, director of Government Relations at AMCP, addressed topics at this year's AMCP Nexus conference in Orlando such as transparency, cost sharing mandates and variables that affect the supply and demand curve for pharmaceuticals within legislation at a federal, but mainly state level. Colborn also touched on the large PBM reform regulation happening currently in New York as it could be a model that other states can follow.

In a population-based cohort study, researchers explored the mortality of vitiligo as there is limited information about risks of mortality among these patients. The researchers investigated all-cause and cause-specific mortality of patients with vitiligo compared with controls without vitiligo using a nationwide database.

Melissa A. Soliz, J.D., of Coppersmith Brockelman PLC is one of 12 winners in this year's Emerging Leaders in Healthcare feature. In an interview with MHE, Soliz recommends the book, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” by Rebecca Skloot to those in healthcare because "it is a compelling portrayal of how the law, ethics, ownership and business interests, and health inequities impact patient care and the advancement of that care from a generational perspective."

Sherry Rais, M.Sc., CEO and co-founder, Enthea, is one of 12 winners in this year's Emerging Leaders in Healthcare feature. In an interview with MHE, she recommends "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich to not only those in healthcare, but all readers as the book illustrates the ways in which inequality affects people’s access to healthcare.

In a JAMA Network Open study published Sept. 11, researchers wanted to take a deeper look into PrEP regimens’ impact on cardiometabolic health, as it is understudied. To do so they examined the risk of incident hypertension and statin use among adult health plan members starting PrEP with tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) compared adults taking tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF).

Nora Lozano-Evjen of Equality Health, is one of 12 winners in this year's Emerging Leaders in Healthcare feature. In an interview with MHE, Lozano-Evjen shared that after she moved to the United States from Mexico City, she became involved as a prevention specialist for two U.S. school districts, which introduced her to health and social disparities impacting underserved communities — especially those of color. The exposure to these realities pushed her toward the community health worker model she believes in today.

Kevonne Holloway, MBA, managing director, Global Content Partners, Elsevier, is one of 12 winners in this year's Emerging Leaders in Healthcare feature. In an interview with MHE, Holloway recommended "The Light We Carry," a book by Michelle Obama, as a must-read as it describes how everyone has a light inside of them that illuminates the way for others.

Kyna Fong, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder, Elation Health, is one of 12 winners in this year's Emerging Leaders in Healthcare feature. In an interview with MHE, Fong shared a guilty pleasure of her's is Na Ya Dessert Cafe in San Francisco's Hayes Valley. In addition to a guilty pleasure, Fong also talked about a career turning point she experienced, and what book she recommends to healthcare professionals.

Mike Steelman, vice president, Managed Markets, Dexcom presented on the pathways to implement non-prescription digital therapeutics at the 2023 PBMI Annual National Conference in Orlando. In this interview with Managed Healthcare Executive, Steelman suggests that creating "certainty in an uncertain world" in the digital therapeutic space could potentially open up doors for further use of these tools.