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Fly-In: Navigating the Rising Cost of Drugs—Pharmacy Insights and Innovations

Event Date: 12/4/2024 - 12/5/2024

Event Overview

Thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape

This event brings together pharmacy leaders and industry professionals to explore the critical issues shaping the future of pharmacy management. Through a series of focused sessions, attendees will gain deep insights into the latest regulatory and legislative changes, strategies for optimizing contracting and rebate revenue, and the unique challenges faced by provider-sponsored health plans in the 340B Drug Pricing Program.  

With a strong emphasis on practical, actionable takeaways, this event is designed to equip participants with the tools and knowledge needed to identify untapped revenue opportunities, optimize financial performance, and control costs amidst the growing financial pressures of specialty pharmacy and rising medication costs.   


Who should attend

This workshop is ideal for pharmacy leaders who want to maximize their financial performance, dig into the current legislative and regulatory landscape, and explore potential untapped opportunities within their pharmacy strategy.  This session could also be relevant for health plan and financial executives and any others who are who are interested in staying ahead of legislative and regulatory shifts, need to refine strategies for bidding, negotiating, and securing favorable contracts and/or those who must interpret and navigate the evolving regulatory environment to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities. 

  • Pharmacy Executives and Leaders who are responsible for managing contracting strategies, navigating regulatory changes, optimizing rebate revenue, and overall management of pharmacy strategy.   
  • Health Plan & Finance Executives dealing with the overall financial impact of the rising cost of drugs and who want to understand market economics and maximize financial performance in their pharmacy spend.  
  • All others who are interested in staying ahead of legislative and regulatory shifts, need to refine strategies for bidding, negotiating, and securing favorable contracts and/or those who must interpret and navigate the evolving regulatory environment to mitigate risks and capitalize on opportunities. 

Top reasons to attend

  • Stay Ahead of Regulatory Changes: Gain critical insights into the latest legislative and regulatory updates, including the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Chevron Doctrine, and the Medicare Modernization, Prescription, and Payment Act (M3P). Understand how these changes are impacting pharmacy management, pricing, and reimbursement. 
  • Optimize Contracting Strategies: Learn how to craft and refine your contracting strategies and discover why regular bidding and market checks are essential for securing the best prices and staying competitive. 
  • Maximize Rebate Revenue: Explore the complexities of the medical drug rebate landscape. Understand why some industry giants might not be the strongest players and learn how to capitalize on opportunities that many plans have yet to seize. 
  • Navigate 340B Tensions: Delve into the unique challenges faced by provider-sponsored health plans in navigating the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Learn how to manage these tensions effectively while maintaining compliance and financial stability. 

  


  



  


Registration
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Fee End Date Description Amount
12/4/2024 Exclusive to Alliance Partner or Shareholder organizations MEMBER PASS
ALLIANCE GUEST
Fee End Date Description Amount
12/4/2024 Only for invited guests of the Alliance GUEST PASS
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Fee End Date Description Amount
12/4/2024 Exclusively for 2023 Platinum sponsors PLATINUM PASS
SPONSOR
Fee End Date Description Amount
12/4/2024 *Registration code required SPONSOR PASS
SPEAKER
Fee End Date Description Amount
12/4/2024 Confirmed faculty members FACULTY PASS
ALLIANCE STAFF
Fee End Date Description Amount
12/4/2024 For Health Plan Alliance staff ALLIANCE STAFF
Venue

Las Colinas, TX

Health Plan Alliance Headquarters

290 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Bldg 1
Irving, TX 75062


Hotels near our headquarters 

Omni Mandalay Hotel
221 E Las Colinas Blvd

Irving, TX 75039
972.556.0800
Website

Aloft Las Colinas
122 E John Carpenter Fwy
Irving, TX 75062
972.717.6100
From this hotel you can walk to our headquarters - ask us for directions.
Website

Marriott Dallas Las Colinas
223 W Las Colinas Blvd
Irving, TX 75039
972.831.0000
Website

Westin Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas
400 West Las Colinas Blvd
Irving, TX 75039
972.505.2900
Website


Texican Court

501 West Las Colinas Blvd
Irving, TX 75039
833.839.4226
Website

 

Need more recommendations send an email to the Alliance. 

 

Attire

Business casual attire is appropriate for the meeting.  Remember that the meeting room temperatures vary, so we recommend that you layer clothing to be comfortable in case the room becomes either hot or cold.


Ground transportation

Taxi from the Dallas/Ft Worth International airport and Love Field airport is approximately $25 one-way.  UberX is $17-20. 


Dallas weather

View the latest weather forecast.
Agenda
12/04/2024 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Networking Dinner


12/05/2024 7:30 AM - 8:00 AM
Breakfast


12/05/2024 8:00 AM - 8:15 AM
Welcome


12/05/2024 8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
Legislative and Regulatory Update: Navigating Pharmacy Management 2024

Dive into the evolving legislative and regulatory landscape that’s reshaping pharmacy management. This session uncovers the latest trends, challenges, and opportunities, with a keen focus on how payer strategies are shifting in response to new regulations. Explore critical updates on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Chevron Doctrine, as well as CMS demos and program guidance and understand their far-reaching implications for pricing, benefit design, pharmacy reimbursement, and member experience. Equip yourself with the knowledge and strategies needed to confidently navigate upcoming policy changes.

Speaker(s):
Tricia A. Beckmann, Principal
Chase Heltzel, Sr. Manager
Faegre Drinker



12/05/2024 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM
Unlocking the Potential of Medical Drug Rebates: Strategies for Maximizing Revenue

Explore the intricate world of medical drug rebates, where opportunities abound but challenges persist. Delve into the reasons behind revenue inconsistencies and uncover why some industry giants may not hold the strongest positions in this space. This session offers a comprehensive overview of the current rebate landscape, shedding light on the untapped dollars many plans have yet to seize. As more medical products become eligible for rebates, gain critical insights and strategies to optimize your revenue streams and boost your plan's financial health.

Speaker:
Will McHugh, President
PayerAlly



12/05/2024 10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break


12/05/2024 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Breakout Session: Collective Problem Solving

Come prepared to share your top pharma challenges prior to the session. During this interactive breakout, small groups will come together to leverage their diverse experiences and collective wisdom to tackle these issues head-on. This is a space for collaborative problem-solving, where participants will explore innovative solutions, share ideas, and walk away with actionable takeaways to address real-world challenges. Let’s pool our expertise and discover new approaches together.



12/05/2024 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Lunch


12/05/2024 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Mastering PBM Contracts: Practical Strategies for Navigating the Evolving Landscape

Unlock the secrets to mastering PBM contracts in this focused session with experts from Hall Render. This session will provide you with actionable insights on dissecting contract elements, understanding the rationale behind PBM decisions, and identifying key negotiation points. We'll also delve into the latest trends in the contracting landscape, including strategies for securing competitive rebate guarantees amidst market shifts.

Speaker(s):
Julie Lappas, Attorney
Hall, Render, Killian, Health & Lyman, P.C.



12/05/2024 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Navigating 340B: Challenges and Strategies for Provider-Sponsored Health Plans

With rising tensions around the 340B Drug Pricing Program, this session will begin with insights from a leading expert on 340B regulations, offering a comprehensive overview of the current regulatory landscape. Following that, two of our own—Eric Cannon and Gary Tereso—will share the strategies and solutions they’ve successfully implemented to realize financial gains through the program. Together, we’ll address the compliance complexities, financial pressures, and evolving relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers that shape the 340B program today. This session will provide real-world best practices for maintaining program integrity and achieving financial success in a highly scrutinized environment.

Speaker(s):
Eric Cannon, Chief Pharmacy Officer
SelectHealth & Scripius

Gary Tereso, Director of Pharmacy
Health New England



12/05/2024 2:00 PM - 2:15 PM
Break


12/05/2024 2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Open Forum: Reflections and Takeaways

Join us for an interactive open forum where participants can come together to reflect on the day’s discussions, share insights, and explore emerging ideas. This is a space for collaborative thinking—where you can ask questions, exchange thoughts, and connect with peers on the topics that resonated most. Bring your perspectives and let’s dive into what’s top of mind for everyone as we wrap up the day.



Attendees

Below is a list of all delegates registered to date for this event

  • Kiran Biring
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Chief Pharmacy Officer at Western Health Advantage
  • Eric Cannon
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Chief Pharmacy Officer/General Manager at SelectHealth
  • Katherine Gilbreath
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Pharmacy Benefits Services Specialist at CHRISTUS Health Plan
  • Brendan Hodges
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • President/CEO at HealthTeam Advantage
  • Deanna Homer
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Chief Operations Officer at HealthTeam Advantage
  • Brooke Johnson
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Pharmacy Benefit Services Strategy Specialist at CHRISTUS Health Plan
  • Amy May
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Director of Pharmacy Services at Care N' Care Insurance Company, Inc.
  • Michael Murphy
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • President at Texas Children's Health Plan
  • Tina Nguyen
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Pharmacy Manager at CHRISTUS Health Plan
  • Preston Renshaw
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Chief Medical Officer at Avera Health Plans
  • Kevin Ruedinger
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Director of Pharmacy at HealthTeam Advantage
  • Andy Wheaton
  • ALLIANCE MEMBER
  • Director-Pharmacy Benefits at Network Health
  • Keri Bloomer
  • ALLIANCE STAFF
  • Director of Operations at Health Plan Alliance
  • Nicole Fultz
  • ALLIANCE STAFF
  • Director, CX and Communications at Health Plan Alliance