While employers fall on a spectrum when it comes to knowledge and understanding of biosimilars, there does remain a need to educate them, as well as for them to educate their employees, said Margaret Rehayem, vice president, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
While employers fall on a spectrum when it comes to knowledge and understanding of biosimilars, there does remain a need to educate them, as well as for them to educate their employees, said Margaret Rehayem, vice president, National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions.
Transcript
How comfortable and confident in biosimilars are employers to push for these products over the reference? Are you still needing to provide education so employers understand the benefits of biosimilars?
There is still a need for education for employers. I think, employers really fall across the spectrum when we're talking about biosimilars. Some of them have actually not only put them on formulary but are willing to go to their health plan, their [pharmacy benefit manager] and actually say, “This is what I want.” And then we've had employers that are still trying to figure out where biosimilars can or should show up in their contract. There's really this broad spectrum right now that we're working with. Therefore, I think there still is a need for education.
We actually recently completed a learning collaborative where we had that broad spectrum within the same collaborative. It was a very exciting time just to hear those that were more well versed in those that were still learning willing to have discussions with one another on this topic. We're still going to continue to move forward with education and meet our coalitions where they're at with their members.
Do employers need to provide more education for employees on biosimilars, and what has that process looked like?
It's interesting, you bring that up, because this was a common concern for many of the employers that we've talked to is being able to communicate the right information that's out there. They're very concerned about the direct-to-consumer advertising is happening now with a lot of different types of drugs. They have to not only put the right information out there, but they have to counteract some of the misinformation that's out there about drugs. It's something that I think employers are very concerned about. They do want to get the right information out there. But they also need to make sure that they're coordinating with what they do have on formulary, so that they're giving the best information to their employees and families.
Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity: Urban Health Outreach
May 9th 2024In the series debut episode of "Frameworks for Advancing Health Equity," Mary Sligh, CRNP, and Chelsea Chappars, of Allegheny Health Network, explain how the Urban Health Outreach program aims to improve health equity for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Listen
Study Highlights Significant Increases in Utilization, Spending on DMD Drugs in Medicaid
May 17th 2024The findings add to recent research on the growing utilization, expenditure, and prices of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) therapies in the current landscape, an area health care policy could potentially address.
Read More
Tackling Health Inequality: The Power of Education and Experience
April 30th 2024To help celebrate and recognize National Minority Health Month, we are bringing you a special month-long podcast series with our Strategic Alliance Partner, UPMC Health Plan. Welcome to our final episode of this limited series and our conversation with Janine Jelks-Seale, MSPPM, director of health equity at UPMC Health Plan.
Listen
Panel Addresses Minority Physician Shortage, Maternal Health at Senate Committee Hearing
May 15th 2024The senate hearing held by the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont), chairman of the committee, and ranking member Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD, (R, Louisiana), addressed the critical issue of physician and health care worker shortages, as well as the maternal health crisis, in the US.
Read More