Blog

Harber ML. Pharmacy Trends, Litigation, and Legislation. HRProfessionalsMagazine. https://hrprofessionalsmagazine.com/2020/07/31/pharmacy-trends-litigation-and-legislation/. Published August 3, 2020.    Employer-sponsored health and pharmacy plans continue to experience rising costs in their drug expenditures. During these times of economic slowdown, financial uncertainty, and a greater focus on expense control, employers have an opportunity to look at different ways to manage drugRead more

Malik, V.S., Willet, W.C. & Hu, F.B. Nearly a decade on — trends, risk factors and policy implications in global obesity. Nat Rev Endocrinol 16, 615–616 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41574-020-00411-y   In the past decade, the prevalence of obesity and related comorbidities has continued to increase across the globe, prompting many countries to adopt policies to improve diet quality. Here, we discussRead more

Ahern DK, Aberger EW, Wroblewski JP, et al. Behavior-based diabetes management: impact on care, hospitalizations, and costs. The American Journal of Managed Care. 2021 Mar;27(3):96-102. DOI: 10.37765/ajmc.2021.88597.   This study evaluated a commercially available diabetes care management program for members of self-insured health plans across the United States. • Adherence to diabetes care standards can beRead more

Aungst TD, Vogenberg FR, “Digital Health: A New-Age Spectrum of Therapeutics”. PT, 2019, Vol 44(11), pp 691–693.   Digital health and a wide spectrum of digital therapeutic products have begun arriving in the U.S. marketplace for use by consumers or patients and for prescribing by health care professionals (HCPs). This is relevant for P&T committeesRead more

Larson C, Vogenberg FR. Guiding Employer Management of Specialty Drugs. Am Health Drug Benefits. 2015;8(5):256-257.   With the 2015 extension of time offered to employers for Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance, many employers are back to focusing their attention on cost management efforts. For the fourth straight year, managing specialty pharmacy has been noted as oneRead more

O’Donnell JT, Vogenberg FR. The Opioid Crisis and What Has Been Learned. P T. 2019;44(12).   So much to write, so little space. A real challenge for healthcare professionals (HCPs) and responsible healthcare organization operating committees like P&T is walking back care delivery and pharmaceutical prescribing practices that have existed for more than a century.Read more

Rumore MM, Vogenberg FR. PBM P&T Practices: The HEAT Initiative Is Gaining Momentum. P T. 2017;42(5):330-335.   The origins of the modern P&T committee lie in hospital-based drug management practices. As managed care evolved and pharmacy benefit management (PBM) emerged through Medicaid and commercial insurance growth, many former hospital pharmacists moved into the growing variety ofRead more

Sturm, Roland and Kenneth B. Wells, The Health Risks of Obesity: Worse Than Smoking, Drinking or Poverty. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2002. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB4549.html.   Obesity is widely recognized as a health risk. The negative effects of obesity and other known health risks, such as smoking, heavy drinking, and poverty, have been well documented. But untilRead more

Authors: Thomas A. Wadden, PhD; Timothy S. Bailey, MD; Liana K. Billings, MD, MMSc; et al This study examines the effects of subcutaneous semaglutide on persons while simultaneously being treated with diet and behavioral therapy.     Please note: This article was published by JAMA and is not affiliated with Employer-Provider Interface Council (EPIC). The below link is provided as a suggested reading weRead more

Reference Wilding JP, Batterham RL, Calanna S, et al. Once-Weekly Semaglutide in Adults with Overweight or Obesity. The New England Journal of Medicine; February 10, 2021. Accessed February 18, 2021. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2032183.   A recent study published in The New England Journal of Medicine reported that treatment with once weekly semaglutide, along with lifestyle intervention, in individualsRead more