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When something happens in the health care world, reporters sometimes call on Associates & Wilson for insight and comment. Below is a sample of articles that attribute quotes to us. Often, however, our influence is subtler. We are most often an unnamed "industry expert" or simply a resource to reporters as they look for newsworthy ideas or trends, or are refining those facts and concepts into an article. Some of our clients use our media contacts developed over decades to promote health care quality improvements or highlight waste, unsafe practices or other issues they feel strongly about.
"Big Employers Join
Forces in Effort to Negotiate Lower Drug Prices," by Milt
Freudenheim. The New York Times, June 12, 2004.
Soaring health care costs don't just cripple the individual healthcare consumer, but also the large companies that have to shell out increasingly large portions of their expenses to keep their employees healthy. They are investigating negotiating lower prices for themselves. Pat Wilson is not sure if it is possible for purchasing groups to negotiate better drug prices than a PBM could. But they could be smarter about getting both a lower price and a lower cost.
"PBM Critics Focus on Drug Discounts, Rebates; Some Plan
Sponsors Suing to Share in Cost Savings," by Sally Roberts.
Business Insurance, February 23, 2004.
Pharmacy benefits managers are responsible for negotiating lower prices for their clients and, in turn, their clients' health plan subscribers. However, they sometimes fail to pass on the savings. Pat Wilson points out that most PBMs are not worried about value for their subscribers.
"Pharmacy forum.” By Shelly Reese. Managed Healthcare Executive, November 2006.
Three panelists answered questions about pharmacy issues and the evolving roles related to the pharmaceutical landscape. The panel consisted of:
- Ruth Ann Opdycke, PharmD, MS, a Senior Consultant with the Pharmacy Group LLC in Glastonbury, Connecticut
- Randall, Seifert, PharmD, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Minnesota
- Pat Wilson, Founder and President of Associates & Wilson in Rosemont, Pennsylvania.
Questions ranged from political pressures on FDA decisions, to the role of CMS in setting pharmacy standards, to the status of managing pharmacy costs in America. The panelists bring varying views from their experiences to the forum.
"Preventing Falls and Fractures: Verizon Program Monitors Seniors' Medications," by Ed Rabinowitz. Healthplan Magazine, November/December 2002.
When a senior falls and breaks a bone, the results are tragic: loss of mobility, loss of independence and, often, loss of life. Verizon, a large telecommunications company and employer, conducted a study that revealed that seniors taking certain prescription medications were much more likely to fall and fracture a bone. Associates & Wilson assisted in that study and helped Verizon formulate a plan to move seniors onto safer, equally effective medications.
"Relief for Some but Maybe Not Many In Wal-Mart Plan for $4 Generic Drugs,” by Michael Barbaro and Reed Abelson. The New York Times, September 22, 2006..
The impact of Wal-Mart’s plan to sharply cut the cost of generic drugs to $4 will be lessened by several factors. The plan, which is said to cover 300 drugs, includes only about 124 separate medicines in various dosages. It leaves out some popular drugs altogether. The trip to Wal-Mart may not be worth it to insured people who may only save about a dollar. And most people on Medicaid pay nothing and may have little incentive to shop around for cheaper prescription drugs. Pat Wilson points out that Wal-Mart appears to be taking some of the profits from traditional middlemen to lower the prices of generics. She points out that they are not losing money on all of these products as Wal-Mart has carefully chosen which drugs it will cover. However, Wilson praises Wal-Mart for bringing attention to the cost savings available from generic drugs.
"Report: Private Sector Can Provide Seniors a High-Quality Managed Drug Benefit," Health & Medicine Week via www.NewsRx.net, October 27, 2003.
The American Association of Health Plans (AAHP) released a groundbreaking report on the ability of the private sector to give seniors appropriate, affordable, safe medical coverage. Associates & Wilson wrote this report.
"Spending on Drugs Slowed in First Quarter, Survey Says," by Milt Freudenheim. The New York Times, June 3, 2003.
Many experts have touted the news that the meteoric rise in drug costs has begun to slow. In this article, however, Pat Wilson cautions both individuals and companies that we need to wait for more information before celebrating a victory for affordable health care costs.
"Transitional Discount Drug Cards Offer Stopgap Until Medicare Benefit Kicks In," by Mari Edlin. Managed Healthcare Executive, April 2004.
The new changes in Medicare have left many seniors confused about discount drug costs, yet still excited for lower prescription expenditures. But Pat Wilson points out that though the discount cards do reduce prices, they fail to take advantage of the technology to improve patient safety by reviewing all drug purchases.
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