With precision medicine an increasingly hot topic in health care, MedImpact is betting that a newly launched program — which reviews every drug prescribed to patients against their genetic profile — will simultaneously give the PBM a competitive edge and improve care.

In a Feb. 26 press release, MedImpact describes its new program as the industry’s first “any drug, any time, any prescriber” approach to pharmacogenomics (PGx).

By Leslie Small

With precision medicine an increasingly hot topic in health care, MedImpact is betting that a newly launched program — which reviews every drug prescribed to patients against their genetic profile — will simultaneously give the PBM a competitive edge and improve care.

In a Feb. 26 press release, MedImpact describes its new program as the industry’s first “any drug, any time, any prescriber” approach to pharmacogenomics (PGx).

“Pharmacogenetics, in the most basic sense, is looking at someone’s genes to determine their drug-metabolizing enzymes,” explains Emily Cicali, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Florida’s College of Pharmacy. For people who have lower levels of drug-metabolizing enzymes, certain medications may be less effective or ineffective, and for those have too much of those enzymes, that could overactivate drugs and “put people at risk for toxicity,” Cicali adds.

The concept of a PBM having a PGx program isn’t new, MedImpact acknowledges in its release. But up until now, most PGx programs generally operated along the lines of “one gene being tested for one drug at one point in time” to determine if there’s a potential conflict, says Karen Geary, the company’s vice president of strategy and innovation. MedImpact’s program, however, screens for genetic interactions with more than 240 commonly prescribed medications and then reviews all future prescriptions for potential drug-gene issues.

Michael Schneider, a principal at Avalere Health, says that if a program like MedImpact’s is able to significantly avert problems like adverse drug events, “then I think this type of analysis could have a big impact on the PBM industry and potentially become the standard of care.”

However, if genetic testing becomes more commonplace across wider swaths of the population, there could be downsides, he suggests. For example, the expense of large-scale genetic testing might trickle down from plan sponsors to consumers in the form of higher premiums.

Since MedImpact rolled out its new program, client interest has been high, Geary says. However, “the challenge that I’ve recently run into is that employers are sitting there looking at what would be a benefit enrichment while, because of COVID-19, they’re having to lay off staff,” she adds.

The Trump administration on May 26 shared new details about a program that offers diabetic seniors access to a variety of insulin products for a maximum $35-per-month copay.

More than 88 health insurers offering about 1,750 standalone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage have now applied to participate in the Part D Senior Savings Model, which CMS unveiled in mid-March. Medicare beneficiaries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will be able to enroll in a participating plan during the Medicare open enrollment period that lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2020, for Part D coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2021.

By Leslie Small

The Trump administration on May 26 shared new details about a program that offers diabetic seniors access to a variety of insulin products for a maximum $35-per-month copay.

More than 88 health insurers offering about 1,750 standalone Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans and Medicare Advantage plans with prescription drug coverage have now applied to participate in the Part D Senior Savings Model, which CMS unveiled in mid-March. Medicare beneficiaries in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will be able to enroll in a participating plan during the Medicare open enrollment period that lasts from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, 2020, for Part D coverage that begins on Jan. 1, 2021.

That “widespread voluntary participation” from health plans “was essential for the program’s success,” says Marc Guieb, Pharm.D., a consultant at Milliman, Inc. Still, “many plans were hesitant to participate in the inaugural year of this program due to uncertainty around its financial impact,” he says. “It is likely that, in future years, more plans will jump on the bandwagon.”

CMS estimates that Medicare beneficiaries who use insulin and join a plan participating in the Part D Senior Savings Model could save an average of $446 annually on out-of-pocket insulin costs, or 66%. Three insulin manufacturers — Eli Lilly and Co., Novo Nordisk Inc. and Sanofi U.S. — have agreed to participate.

On the one hand, the concept of a fixed insulin copay should be attractive to seniors and can improve medication adherence, says Brian Anderson, a principal at Milliman. Still, “the benefit coordination and claims processing is going to be tricky,” he suggests, adding that “the pharmacy reimbursements, manufacturer payments, application of the Part D benefit phases and reinsurance will all come into play.”

“Overall, this has the opportunity to improve the Part D benefit and drive formulary competition from a cost standpoint,” Anderson concludes.

America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) gave the program a glowing assessment. “Innovative voluntary programs like this Part D Senior Savings Model are an excellent example of public-private partnerships where everyone wins, but especially patients,” AHIP President and CEO Matt Eyles said in a statement released May 26.