Jeremy Docken

Discussing issues facing the healthcare system and joys and challenges of running a healthcare technology company. Plus other things that I find interesting.

[Robert Popovian 🇺🇸 🇦🇲 @PopovianPharmD]

As I have stated previously, @GoodRx is a PBM scam, another form of spread pricing.

Patients benefit from paying cash for some of the most often prescribed generic medications.

There are far better options for patients to pay cash e.g., Costco

https://t.co/t5lPtBsCW0

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@A_Ciaccia When entering the health care space many years ago, I was told that the only sure business in pharma is to be a middleman. Wholesalers, GPOs, and PBMs are sweet deals if you can make one.

[Antonio Ciaccia @A_Ciaccia]

I bet there are some grumpy faces up in Dublin, Ohio this evening after reading this one. Ouch.

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@A_Ciaccia I don't know about you, but it feels like there is so much change going on all at once that it is hard to know what to focus on.

[Robert Popovian 🇺🇸 🇦🇲 @PopovianPharmD]

Insurers and PBMs are Undermining Employee Health Benefits

Employers have the power and they need to ensure that their employee drug benefits are protected from PBM/insurer profit-seeking practices

@GHLForg @ppi @PioneerBoston

https://t.co/xZG0Niqqgk via @HCBizToday

[Drug Channels @DrugChannels]

A timely reminder that #insulin #drug prices are not what they seem: "Understanding Insulin Prices"

Do politicians understand that out-of-pocket costs, not list prices, are patients’ biggest challenge?

@PioneerBoston @InsideSourcesDC #GrossToNetBubble

https://t.co/ikLNJpznti

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@340B_Report Wonderful pick! Looking forward to working with Emeka Egwim.

[Drug Channels @DrugChannels]

Drug Channels News Roundup, January 2022

In this issue:
- An update on the #GrossToNetBubble for #insulin
- OptumRx trolls us
- Patients vs. high-deductible health plans
- #340B's unstoppable growth
Plus: Fun with the CDC

Read it all here ==> https://t.co/ELka9JhdQR

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@DrugChannels @pfizer @MedicaidBlog @FoleyHoag Brilliant work by Pfizer and their counsel.

[Peter Kolchinsky @PeterKolchinsky]

Dear Lawmakers @POTUS @RonWyden @SpeakerPelosi Hundreds of us biotech investors, innovators, patient advocates, & NIH academics representing >40k US jobs, >600 drugs in trials, & >$200B invested propose solutions to affordability that preserve R&D. 1/
https://t.co/bMJ85R2Jxc

[Pharmaceutical Executive @PharmExec]

The cost of drugs has long been a hot-button topic, but how might the landscape be changing for 2021? The Current State of Drug Pricing and Forecasts for the Future explores what drug makers need to know as the Biden administration tackles #drugpricing
➡️https://t.co/fUD2YDVahr

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@johncutlefish This is why I never wanted to become a product manager!

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@DrugChannels @bobjherman @axios @amazon Also nice to see you quoted, Adam. ;-)

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

@DrugChannels Sadly our approach to healthcare is finding a villain to blame and fight against because it's easier to score political points vs solving the actual problem, which is harder and involves some pain and compromise.

[Drug Channels @DrugChannels]

R.I.P., #rebate rule

@HHSGov delays world w/o rebates until at least 2023, due to @pcmanet lawsuit: https://t.co/KSwQ7r8heK

Good news for #PBMs & #GrossToNetBubble ; Bad news for patients taking deeply-discounted #drugs 😔

My still-relevant 2019 $0.02: https://t.co/G21x0XupbH

[Robert Popovian 🇺🇸 🇦🇲 @PopovianPharmD]

Questions: What happens to patients whose medication is no longer covered by the PBM? Do insurers who now supposedly own these PBMs care about the total cost of care due to poor outcomes?
Answers: WHO CARES & NO since rebate contracting driving this behavior is far more lucrative

[Robert Popovian 🇺🇸 🇦🇲 @PopovianPharmD]

PCMA will always protect the rebate contracting gravy train, as it is the most lucrative part of the RX benefit management & AARP opposing the rebate rule is because AARP is a PBM & not a patient group as advertised

read👇
https://t.co/i1iwRPoCVA

https://t.co/CwkkE5n4aQ

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

Great paper showing why HHS's "world without rebates" Part D rule is good policy for directing drug discounts where they matter-to reduce patient OOP spend.

[Robert Popovian 🇺🇸 🇦🇲 @PopovianPharmD]

My paper published in Health Science Journal analyzing how rebate contracting for pharmaceuticals leads to higher out of pocket costs for patients, higher healthcare spending and worsening patient compliance #Pharmaceutical #healthcare #patients https://t.co/74uxL00vcG

[Seth Joseph @sethbjoseph]

Curious about others’ reactions to my belief that @ONC_HealthIT's info blocking rule is a really, really big deal. As in, perhaps more so than anything in the previous or next 5 years.

https://t.co/F8a6DsULLj

[Jeremy Docken @JeremyGDocken]

Only in 340B is margin and profit called "savings"

[Drug Channels @DrugChannels]

Big #340B profits in specialty #pharmacy, per two academic medical centers (UC Davis Health & Boston Medical Center):
- Non-340B margins = 5% to 10%
- #340B margins = 30% to 50%

Follow the dollars!

Source: @Rx_Specialty annual meeting

P.S. My $0.02: https://t.co/sjuOTNs1PB