Annual Meeting 2018

September 24 & 25 at the Westin Kierland, Scottsdale, AZ

The PCMA Annual Meeting is the industry’s premier executive conference. The event is tailored specifically for senior executives from PBMs and their affiliated business partners – most notable drug manufacturers. We’ve designed the Annual Meeting to be an important part of your business strategy and we are proud of the unique value that the conference offers.

Conference Program Book

Annual Meeting 2018 Agenda

Monday, September 24
7:00 am - 7:00 pm

Registration Open

7:00 am - 6:30 pm

Private Meeting Rooms Open

7:15 am - 8:45 am

Networking Breakfast

8:45 am - 12:00 pm

General Sessions 

 

8:45 am – 9:30 am

Welcome

Conference Moderator: Betty Nguyen, Anchor and Journalist, NBC News & MSNBC

American Patients First Blueprint Discussion and Update

Dan Best, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Drug Policy Reform, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

John O’Brien, Advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health Policy, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Moderator: Kristin Bass, Senior Vice President, Policy and Federal Affairs, PCMA

View Details

Since the introduction of the Blueprint, HHS has taken dozens of actions on the four strategies contemplated in the blueprint: increased competition, better negotiation, incentives for lower list prices, and reducing out-of-pocket costs. Together, these actions have helped bring into focus a vision for a more competitive pharmaceutical marketplace. Pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and other actors in the market have indicated that they recognize the scale of disruption this would involve.

During this session Dan and John will discuss this and more.

 

9:30 am – 10:30 am

The Future of Drug Discount and Rebate Negotiations

Jim Clement, Executive Director, Value Based Care and Supply Chain Strategy, Aetna

Kevin Host, President & Chief Operating Officer, PSG Consulting

Doug Langa, Executive Vice President, Head of North America Operations & President of Novo Nordisk Inc., Novo Nordisk

Kent Rogers, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations and Specialty Contracting, OptumRx

Moderator: Ian Spatz, Senior Advisor, Manatt Health

View Details

The rebate contracting system we know today has been an extremely effective tool for drug discount negotiations and cost management.  However, many forces are at work to bring about significant changing the system. During this session our panel will discuss the drivers of this change and how it will impact our respective businesses.

 

10:30 am – 11:00 am

Safe Harbor Protection Changes: Legal, Legislative, and Regulatory Considerations

Tom Barker, Partner, Co-Chair, Healthcare Practice, Foley Hoag LLP

View Details

As a Partner and Co-chair of Foley Hoag’s Healthcare Practice, Tom focuses his practice on complex federal and state health care legal and regulatory matters with a special expertise in Medicare and Medicaid law including coverage, reimbursement, and regulatory oversight.  Prior to joining Foley Hoag, Tom was acting General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and General Counsel of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

During this session Tom will explain the many scenarios that exist with regard to the possible removal of safe harbor protections for drug company rebates.

 

11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Changing Dynamics in Drug Launch Pricing

Jeff Krol, Vice President, Market Access and Payer Strategy, Greenwich Biosciences

Amanda Mott, Senior Vice President, Market Access, Radius Health

Harry Vargo, Director, Value Based Contracting and Manufacturer Trade Relations, Aetna

Moderator: Tom Knox, President, Fathom Healthcare Solutions

View Details

This session will explore how market forces are altering the way drug launch prices are being set.   During this session the panel will explore recent come to market strategies, why it’s important to start the process early, and the importance for stakeholders on all sides to be willing to consider alternative, innovative solutions to help ensure access to innovative therapies.

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Networking Lunch &

Member Company Lunch Receptions: Aetna, Humana, and Prime Therapeutics

These receptions promote business interactions between PBM members, drug and biotech manufacturers, and other industry partners. Attendees flow in and out of the concurrent Member Company Receptions while PBM members serve as hosts in their designated room during the reception time.

1:30 pm - 6:30 pm

Open time for private meetings

6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Cocktail and Dinner Reception with Live Music

Live music, savory fare, and a southwestern outdoor ambiance provide a fun and relaxed atmosphere, perfect for networking during this evening reception.

Tuesday, September 25
7:00 am - 4:00 pm

Registration Open

7:00 am - 7:00 pm

Private Meeting Rooms Open

7:30 am - 9:00 am

Networking Breakfast &

Member Company Breakfast Receptions: Magellan Rx Managment and OptumRx

These receptions promote business interactions between PBM members, drug and biotech manufacturers, and other industry partners. Attendees flow in and out of the concurrent Member Company Receptions while PBM members serve as hosts in their designated room during the reception time.

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

General Sessions

 

9:00 am – 9:30 am

The Drug Pricing Debate

Mark Merritt, President & Chief Executive Officer, PCMA

Incoming PCMA Board Chairman Address: Innovation, Collaboration, and the Opportunity Ahead

John Prince, Chief Executive Officer, OptumRx

View Details

This session will highlight the current industry landscape, address opportunities around innovation, and ultimately discuss how PBMs and pharma can and should work together to advance therapies for patients and payers.

 

9:30 am – 10:00 am

New Pharmacy Benefit Management Approaches

Troy Brennan, Executive Vice President & Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health

View Details

During this session Dr. Brennan will discuss new PBM approaches to making drugs more affordable to both patients and payers. Traditional PBM approaches of encouraging the use of lower-cost alternatives through step therapy and prior authorization, appropriate use, and formularies have contributed to keeping drug trend under 0.2% and premium increases less than 2.5% a year over the past five years.  PBMs are innovating and improving existing tools to continue to manage costs for patients and payers alike.

Dr. Brennan will highlight innovations that can further reduce costs and provide details on how we can improve existing tools. These initiatives include:

  • Assistance for patients in the deductible phase of their insurance, during which they shoulder all the costs;
  • Addressing the launch price of new medications, something PBMs have not historically been able to mitigate; and
  • A renewed emphasis on transparency so that members, their doctors and their pharmacists can understand the true cost of a prescribed medication.

 

10:00 am – 11:00 am

Working Together Towards Better Patient and Payer Affordability

Bill Martin, Vice President/General Manager & Chief Commercial Officer, Accredo, an Express Scripts Company

Joel Saban, President, Diplomat

Mike Staff, Vice President, U.S. Market Access, AbbVie

Don Sawyer, Vice President, U.S. Market Access, Celgene

Moderator: Jim Hill, President, Pharma Strategy Group

View Details

Prescription drug costs continue to be a primary concern for both the PBM and pharma industries. Breakthrough therapies are entering the market and delivering tremendous value to our health care system. Access and affordability are of great importance to all of us.

During this discussion the panel will address specific marketplace dynamics, challenges, reactions, and opportunities to be considered as we all work to address the affordability challenge.

 

11:00 am – 11:30 am

Drivers of Change in the Drug Supply Chain

Bill Roth, Founding Partner, Blue Fin Group

View Details

From Amazon jumping into pharmacy and payer models, to changes in benefit design to contend with the rise of catastrophic coverage, to the rise of plan sponsors’ interest to gain visibility and control of benefits within Rx spend, to the convergence of pharmacy and medical benefits, to new payer models emerging, we can all agree that profound change is upon us. During his session Bill will share his thoughts on what is driving the change we’re seeing, and how payers, PBMs, pharmacies and manufacturers are viewing and contending with it.

 

11:30 am – 12:00 pm

Transforming Healthcare with Technology and Consumerism

Steve Cutts, Vice President, Pharmacy Services and Clinical Strategy, Magellan Rx Management

View Details

Technology is advancing, giving consumers more access and control over their health care experience and outcomes. The PBM landscape is shifting, creating the need to rethink how care is delivered and managed.  To keep up with these evolving needs and provide value to stakeholders, and to offer the control that consumers are demanding, it is essential that PBMs seek new and innovative ways to deliver care. During this session, Steve will discuss the rise of consumer engagement, explore the role of digital therapeutics, software, and gamification in health care, and future trends.

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm

Networking Lunch &

Member Company Lunch Receptions: CVS Health and Express Scripts

These receptions promote business interactions between PBM members, drug and biotech manufacturers, and other industry partners. Attendees flow in and out of the concurrent Member Company Receptions while PBM members serve as hosts in their designated room during the reception time.

1:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Open time for private meetings

8:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Cocktail and Dessert Reception

Join your peers for dessert, cocktails, and conversation with colleagues at this after-dinner reception.