Expert Interviews

A glance at the process and regulations of switching, plus how an interchangeability study is conducted.

Alina M. Czekai, M.P.H., vice president, value-based care strategy, Cohere Health, is one of 12 winners in this year's Emerging Leaders in Healthcare feature. In this video interview, Czekai shares a turning point that changed her career trajectory, recommends a good read for healthcare professionals, and even spills her guilty pleasure: some time with the "Real Housewives" and a glass of red wine.

The challenges associated with treating hemophilia A become increasingly complex with varying disease severity.

Hematologist Jonathan Roberts, MD, discusses the history and challenges of hemophilia A treatment.

Explanation of the cost-effectiveness analysis and additional factors involved when treating C. Difficile with REBYOTA.

Definitions of originator biologics, biosimilars, and unbranded biologics, including their lifespan in the marketplace.

Specialty pharmacies prioritize minimizing drug waste in hemophilia A treatment, aiming for near-complete dosing while adhering to payer limits and addressing potential drug hoarding among patients.

Specialty pharmacies can help patients with hemophilia A maintain hemostasis and ensure patient safety through medication therapy management, utilizing regional care coordinators and direct pharmacist outreach, and by maintaining consistent provider communication.

Risks for sepsis and colectomy during the first twelve months of C. Difficile as well as additional burdens on the healthcare system. Novel therapies are also discussed.

Recognizing the significance of patient comfort, familiarity with treatment, and established support networks is crucial for adherence if treatment switches are needed.

Ensuring that patients with hemophilia A have the necessary injection supplies, appropriately-sized syringes, and access to tracking tools can help to foster treatment adherence.

Counseling for patients with hemophilia A should include medication storage requirements, the importance of maintaining sterile injections, and administration considerations, such as how to use blunt fill needles.

Diverse factors can influence treatment decisions for patients with hemophilia A, such as the evolving landscape of insurance coverage, challenges related to vein access and medication storage, and mode of administration.

In an interview with MHE, Parikh, a retina specialist in New York and director of healthcare delivery research for the Department of Ophthalmology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, described the current situation of biosimilars in retinal medicine and the attitudes of retinal specialists about using the lower-cost alternatives.

In an interview with MHE, Paul Hahn, M.D., Ph.D., vitreoretinal surgeon at NJRetina, talked about the latest geographic atrophy treatments, pegcetacoplan and avacincaptad pegol, from a coverage and healthcare resource utilization standpoint, as both will potentially be available for the chronic disease that previously had no treatments.

Paul Hahn, M.D., Ph.D., vitreoretinal surgeon at NJRetina, chatted with MHE about the latest geographic atrophy treatments and shared key takeaways found from clinical trials examining them. Hahn presented on macular degeneration today at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual meeting in Seattle.

Research shows a $12,575 savings over two years and no difference in outcome, which result in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $873,000.

In an interview with Managed Healthcare Executive prior to the meeting, Keyvan Koushan, M.D., a retina specialist at the Toronto Retina Institute and a lecturer in the Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences at the University of Toronto, briefly described the design of the PULSAR trial and the positive results that have been reported so far.

Charles Wykoff, M.D., Ph.D., director of clinical research at Retina Consultants of Texas, noted new treatments for geographic atrophy are predicted to be a hot topic at the American Society of Retina Specialists annual scientific meeting that starts today in Seattle.

In their final thoughts, the experts illustrate the overall effect of bempedoic acid for statin-intolerant patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Drs Cho and Martin examine the side effect profile associated with bempedoic acid.

Medical experts highlight key findings from the CLEAR Outcomes trial.

Key opinion leaders discuss parameters and limitations of the CLEAR Outcomes clinical trial.

Bempedoic acid provides an effective treatment alternative for patients with statin intolerance due to differences in mechanisms of action.

Leslie Cho, MD, FACC, FESC, FSCAI, and Seth S. Martin, MD, MHS, FACC, FAHA, FASPC, open a discussion regarding therapies for statin-intolerant patients with ASCVD and provide an overview of the CLEAR Outcomes clinical trial. 

In closing thoughts, the panel discusses the future of prescription digital therapeutics within clinical practice.

The panel provides an overview of the benefits surrounding the Access to Prescription Digital Therapeutics Act of 2023.

Key opinion leaders provide insights regarding reimbursement challenges associated with the implementation of prescription digital therapeutics.

Dr Coder drives a discussion surrounding barriers to prescription digital therapeutic utilization.

Medical experts discuss the impact of health inequities on the optimization of prescription digital therapeutic usage.