A Dialogue on Patient Access Programs

As health reforms sweep in major changes to our nation’s healthcare system, patient assistance and access programs  (PAPs) are rapidly evolving to assess and meet new needs. As millions of uninsured Americans gain some form of insurance coverage, manufacturer-sponsored PAPs face unprecedented challenges as they rise up to evolve the PAP model to best address changing needs in the market.

The annual Patient Assistance and Access Programs conference, hosted by the Center for Business Intelligence (CBI), has become the largest gathering of the nation’s leading Patient Assistance and Access Programs (PAP) experts, with nearly 500 participants. The Patient Assistance and Access Programs 13^th annual conference, to be held in March, features 65 distinguished speakers. Participants will have access to the Patient Access Networking Pavilion and benefit from exclusive coverage on the latest issues, including: reform and insurance exchanges; income eligibility criteria for patient cost sharing and specialty programs; new web portals for enrollment; and innovation in institutional programs, pharmacy cards, and bulk replenishment.

Keynotes this year include “Treatment Innovation, Affordability and Access – Understanding the Plight of Patients with Chronic Illness” by Emmy award winner and health activist, Blythe Danner; and “Insurance Market Reforms and Opportunities for PAPs” by Senior Advisor to the Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Jay Angoff.

Additionally, Jeremy A. Lazarus, President-Elect of the American Medical Association, is a panelist on the Healthcare Reform Panel: PPACA – Update on Implementation, Provisions, and Impact on Coverage Gaps. This panel illustrates the commitment to the success of these critical health coverage programs. Topics to be addressed during this panel include:

• State Perspective: How the Affordable Care Act will impact states and patients (expansion of Medicaid, advent of Insurance Exchanges, Deficits, etc.);

• Federal Perspective: Key improvements, existing coverage gaps, availability of Federal funds and how these will be used, outlook for further legislation); and

• Physician Perspective: Impact on the physician community, evolutions within primary care, and perspective on the issues that matter the most to doctors and patients

Pharmaceutical Executive‘s Editor-in-Chief William Looney will be moderating a panel, “Economic Forecasts and Employer Sponsored Insurance once PPACA Coverage Provisions Materialize,” at the conference as well. The conference will take place March 6-7 in Baltimore, Maryland.