2022 Pharmacy Survey Results: PrEP and Wegovy | Part 4
Opinion was split evenly on preexposure prophylaxis as a strategy for preventing HIV infections.
Fourth of six parts
Many government, public health officials and HIV/AIDS experts talked up preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) as the way to protect from getting infected with HIV and perhaps end the HIV epidemic altogether.
But fewer people are taking PrEP pills than hoped. Injections that provide protection for two months may help. But respondents to our 2022 Pharmacy Survey are split evenly on PrEP as a strategy for stopping HIV infections. Just over one-third (35%) rated their confidence in PrEP stopping HIV infections as high or very high.
But a similar proportion (36%) rated their confidence in PrEP as a strategy for stopping HIV infections as low or very low. A sizable minority of 28% classified themselves as neutral on the question.
We also asked about coverage of Wegovy (semaglutide), the weight-loss drug. A solid majority (55%) agreed that insurers are justified in restricting coverage of Wegovy, a result that may reflect that about 38% of the more than 950 respondents to our survey indicated that they work for pharmacy benefit managers.
The survey was distributed by Managed Healthcare Executive® and Pharmacy Times® in late June and early July.
David Calabrese of OptumRx Talks New Role, Market Insulin Prices and Other Topics 'On His Mind'
April 13th 2023In this month’s episode of the "What's On Your Mind podcast," Peter Wehrwein, managing editor of MHE connects with the now Chief Clinical Officer of OptumRx Integrated Pharmacies, David Calabrese. In this conversation, David touches on his transition in January as OptumRx’s former chief pharmacy officer and market president of health plans and PBMs to his new role as Chief Clinical Officer where he now focuses more on things such as specialty pharmacy to home delivery — with an overall goal of creating whole-patient care. Throughout the conversation, Calabrese also touched on the market’s hot topic of insulin prices and behavioral health services within the OptumRx community, among other topics.
Listen
Upended: Can PBM Transparency Succeed?
March 6th 2024Simmering tensions in the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry have turned into fault lines. The PBMs challenging the "big three" have formed a trade association. Purchaser coalitions want change. The head of the industry's trade group says inherent marketplace friction has spilled over into political friction.
Read More
Briana Contreras, editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, spoke with Nancy Lurker, CEO and president of EyePoint Pharmaceuticals. Nancy shared a bit about EyePoint and how the organization’s innovative therapies are addressing patient needs through eye care, and most importantly, she addressed C-Suite positions like the CEO role. Nancy shared advice for those seeking to reach the CEO level, especially toward women in healthcare and other roles, and what it takes to run a biopharma company.
Listen
The deliberate disconnection of Change Healthcare to ring fence a cyberattack entered its seventh day today. Prescribers are finding ways to get pharmacy claims processed, and UnitedHealth Group says disruption to the dispensing of prescriptions has been minimal. But independent pharmacies want more information and protection from financial consequences from pharmacy benefit managers.
Read More
