September 16, 2015 - Curant COO, Marc O'Connor, in Specialty Pharmacy Times - In the current landscape of specialty drugs for chronic care, including PCSK9 inhibitors topping $1,000 per month for life, what are the key factors biopharmaceutical manufacturers consider when evaluating specialty pharmacy partners for their distribution networks?
We are always interested in learning about how specialty pharmacies can position themselves in the market to serve patients better. Within the intricacies of open, limited and exclusive distribution networks, what do biopharmaceutical manufacturers prioritize most highly when deciding which specialty pharmacies to include in their networks, and which of those factors benefit patients the most?
From our engagement at events like the Armada Specialty Summit and the 2nd Annual Summit on Specialty Distribution and Channel Optimization (SDCO), we have learned this year that there exists a healthy crossover in the key attributes biopharmaceutical manufacturers seek from their limited distribution networks and best practices for improving outcomes for chronically ill patients on specialty medication regimens. What’s good for the patient is also good for the serving specialty pharmacy’s business AND the manufacturer.
The following three metrics consistently come to the fore when discussing the attributes biopharmaceutical manufacturers prize the most when evaluating specialty pharmacy partners.
Key Performance Indicators: Adherence, Time to Fill & Access
Manufacturers evaluate specialty pharmacies on indicators that are easily measurable and have concrete data points. Patient adherence rates, time to fill, and access were cited as top KPIs at SDCO in July. As the role of pharmacists continues to grow in overall healthcare delivery, it is becoming expected that they offer expanded services and programs that improve adherence rates, patient education and remove barriers to access. Traditional roles like filling prescriptions matter, but excellence in traditional roles is fully expected, not a value-add.
Consistent, direct patient outreach, customized adherence packaging and pharma-analytics are three ways specialty pharmacy partners elevate their ability to meet these KPIs and improve patient outcomes.
To read Marc's full article, visit Specialty Pharmacy Times.
To learn more about Curant Health, contact Kristin Lindsey, Marketing Director, at klindsey@curanthealth.com.