April 2010

Future costs of MS therapy are likely to increase due to new add-on therapy combined with double-digit growth in utilization for existing drugs.

Identifying solutions to preserve the current transparency and take it to the next level is imperative for success.

Federal regulatory policies should encourage the development of new and better treatments for people living with chronic diseases.

Major patient and professional advocacy organizations discussed factors leading to patient nonadherence to prescription therapy and solutions for overcoming the major barriers.

Initial use of fixed-dose angiotensin receptor blocker/hydrochlorothiazide therapy may improve hypertension management, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, and decrease long-term healthcare expenditures.

Understanding the factors necessary for successful change management will make this work more satisfying and rewarding for P&T committees.

Can value-based benefit design be used in specialty pharmacy to address costs and align incentives between patients and payers?

The ASTHMA-CAT, an online, patient-based assessment measure, may facilitate asthma care management.

This study linked e-prescribing records to paid pharmacy claims to identify primary nonadherence rates and factors associated with unfilled prescriptions.

The prevalence of primary nonadherence suggests that focusing solely on secondary nonadherence may miss an important piece of the puzzle.

By eliminating waste in the prescription drug supply chain, Caterpillar lowered total drug costs while copayment tiers remained unchanged.