As it has done with so much else in healthcare, COVID-19 dominated our 2020 annual pharmacy survey. The disease was addressed in 10 of our 13 areas we covered, either within the question itself or as a possible answer. First of three parts. See more in our Surveys tab.
Overall, the responses paint a picture of the pandemic having a major impact, which is not surprising, and reveal some optimism; for example, 78% of the respondents expect to see at least limited use of a COVID-19 vaccine by the first quarter of 2021.
Premiums for Employer-based Health Insurance Increased by 7% in 2024, Says KFF Report
Published: October 9th 2024 | Updated: October 9th 2024The 2024 increase is the same as last year's increase for family coverage. The foundation’s annual survey of employer health benefits also found that only 18% of large employers (200 employees are more) are covering the GLP-1 weight loss drugs.
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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.
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A Conversation With Greg Baker, RPh, CEO of AffirmedRx
March 31st 2024Greg Baker, CEO of AffirmedRx, describes his early career, shares some of his critical opinions about the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) industry and how, in his view, his company is offering a better alternative.
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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.
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Florida Gets the OK. But Will Drug Importation from Canada Actually Happen?
March 5th 2024Canadian health officials warn that maintaining a drug supply for Canadians is their priority. The staunch opposition of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry may also be an obstacle to imports from north of the border.
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