Laura Joszt, MA

Defining "value" in cancer care goes beyond survival and should encompass patient quality of life metrics, said Coral Omene, MD, PhD, of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

David Awad, PharmD, BCOP, says pharmacists play a growing role in managing access, safety, and toxicity for these therapies, ensuring treatments are appropriate and sustainable in real-world oncology practice.

Insurance hurdles in value-based cancer care create delays and anxiety for patients and providers, complicating access to essential treatments, explained Coral Omene, MD, PhD, of Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Systemic barriers beyond just the price of drugs can impact health care costs, emphasizing the need for comprehensive affordability solutions, explained H. John Beardsley, MBA, of CoverMyMeds, and Fauzea Hussain, MPH, of McKesson.

Medicare Part B drug negotiations in 2028 pose challenges for providers, requiring new payment systems and strategies to ensure patient access, explained H. John Beardsley, MBA, of CoverMyMeds, and Fauzea Hussain, MPH, of McKesson.

Adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) face significant survival disparities and unmet needs for effective third-line treatments, highlighting urgent care gaps.

Pharmacists enhance value-based care by selecting cost-effective treatments, managing adherence, and preventing hospitalizations through collaborative multidisciplinary teamwork, said Eileen Peng, PharmD, of Astera Cancer Care.

Artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance insulin dosing accuracy for hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), improving glycemic control and streamlining physician workflows.

Pharmacists play a crucial role in managing treatment with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies, focusing on patient selection and side effects, explained Eileen Peng, PharmD, of Astera Cancer Care.

The advent of novel cancer care therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and bispecific antibodies is transforming the role of pharmacists in enhancing patient care.

Following President Donald Trump's most favored nation executive order, HHS and CMS have released the target price for pharmaceutical manufacturers to meet.

Novel therapies for multiple myeloma (MM), including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell and bispecific antibodies, extend lives but raise concerns about treatment costs and adherence, and they haven't replaced stem cell transplantation, Harsh Parmar, MD, of Hackensack University Medical Center, explains.

Drug companies and specialty distributors navigate challenges like profitability, supply chain volatility, regulatory complexities, and market pressures to build successful partnerships, said Natalie Bedford of McKesson.

To safely and successfully use artificial intelligence (AI) tools in the pharmacy, credentialing bodies and professional associations will need to validate these tools for the individual pharmacist, said Harry Travis of The Travis Group.

Innovative financing and reimbursement models can improve access to cell and gene therapies, addressing cost barriers and improving patient outcomes, said Joe DePinto, MBA, of McKesson.

Specialty distributors can help navigate complex health care regulations, ensuring compliance and adapting to changes in the landscape, said Natalie Bedford of McKesson.

Joe DePinto, MBA, of McKesson; Kathi Henson, MBA, of Orsini; and Natalie Bedford of McKesson discuss how Asembia's AXS25 Specialty Summit fosters collaboration among industry leaders, exploring technology trends to enhance specialty pharmacy and patient care delivery.

Improving health equity is part of the core of quality improvement and requires data collection and community engagement strategies for underserved populations, said Shawn Griffin, MD, president and CEO of URAC.

Strategic relationships and feedback can enhance specialty pharmacy operations, said Natalie Bedford, senior vice president of US pharmaceutical distribution services at McKesson.

Balancing technology and patient care can enhance communication and data collection, improving adherence and outcomes in specialty pharmacy, said Kathi Henson, MBA, of Orsini.

As the number of cell and gene therapies expands, it's increasingly important for long-term patient data, explained Fran Gregory, PharmD, MBA, vice president of emerging therapies at Cardinal Health.

New treatments for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) and diabetic macular edema (DME) enhance patient care with gene therapies and new mechanisms of action on the horizon, explained Casey Koch, PharmD, from Select Health.

Evaluating the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) will require real-time data and effective therapy metrics, explained H. John Beardsley, MBA, of CoverMyMeds; and Fauzea Hussain, MPH, of McKesson.

Medicaid beneficiaries face higher rates of pulmonary hypertension, with significant economic burdens and racial disparities in prevalence and costs.

A group of experts discusses the use of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) technology in diabetes and its transformative potential in managing the disease.

The former television personality and heart surgeon was confirmed in a 53-45 vote on party lines.

Despite resubmitting after an initial complete response letter (CRL) due to manufacturing issues, the combination therapy received a second CRL as a frontline therapy for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

The second Trump administration is expected to bring changes to Medicaid, Medicare Advantage, and the health insurance exchanges, as well as highlight the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, speakers at the Value-Based Insurance Design Summit said.

Some patients are better candidates than others for histotripsy to treat liver tumors, but ultimately, this treatment still requires a good multidisciplinary team, like any cancer treatment, said Shaun P. McKenzie, MD, FACS.