Healthcare Matters Global Healthy Living Foundation

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc bring you essential takeaways from the World Vaccine Congress. Joined by guests Abby Bownas, leader of the Adult Vaccine Access Coalition (AVAC) and the American Disease Prevention Coalition (ADPC), and Dr. Thomas Acciani, Director of U.S. Vaccine Policy at GSK, they delve into their significant roles within the vaccine landscape and discuss the overarching importance of the congress. Dr. Popovian highlights the latest advancements in vaccine research conducted by GHLF and their research partner IQVIA Human Data Sciences.

This episode offers a comprehensive overview of the current state and future directions of vaccine development and deployment. Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in the field of vaccines.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:20: Dr. Popovian shares his recent participation to the World Vaccine Congress, including his roles as a presenter and panel moderator, offering insights into the significance of the event

02:43: Dr. Popovian and Abby Bownas discuss the importance of increasing adult vaccination rates and the federal and policy opportunities that can help achieve this goal 

04:13: Abby explains the role of the American Disease Prevention Coalition (ADPC) in supporting pharmacists as vaccinators across different states, highlighting the variation in vaccination rules and authority levels

05:06: Dr. Popovian and Abby discuss the broad coalition of partners involved in ADPC, including pharmacists, vaccine makers, patient groups, and advocacy organizations. They emphasize the coalition's efforts to harmonize state laws on pharmacist vaccination authority before federal temporary provisions expire

06:53: Abby stresses the collaborative effort required among all providers to improve vaccine access and uptake, making the case for pharmacies and physicians to work together effectively

08:23: Dr. Acciani describes his role at GSK and the importance of addressing policy barriers to enhance patient access to vaccines, stressing the collaboration with public and private sectors to remove these obstacles

09:17: Dr. Popovian and Dr. Acciani discuss the need to eliminate unnecessary policy barriers to improve vaccination accessibility, advocating for a "no wrong door" policy where patients can receive vaccinations immediately upon request

11:20: Dr. Popovian presents findings from a study on Medicaid reimbursement and its correlation with vaccine uptake, emphasizing the impact of economic incentives on vaccination rates

13:50: Dr. Popovian discusses GHLF’s research on immunization access and its correlation with reimbursement strategies, particularly focusing on the disparities in vaccination rates among different socio-economic groups

15: 57: Dr. Popovian discusses the challenges faced by immunocompromised patients in accessing vaccines, discussing the significant barriers that persist despite insurance coverage

17:27: Dr. Popovian shares insights on future research directions for GHLF, including a study on vaccine uptake challenges among immunocompromised patients and the potential policy interventions to reduce barriers to vaccination

20:10: Dr. Popovian reflects on the broader implications of vaccine research beyond infectious diseases, pointing to exciting developments in oncology vaccines and their potential impact on public health

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc are joined by Kate Hudson, Associate Vice President and Counsel for Government Relations and Public Policy at the Association of American Universities, to dissect the complex issue of march-in rights. They delve into how this regulation negatively influences the partnership between public research and private sector investment, which is crucial for supporting biopharmaceutical innovation from university labs to a patient’s bedside. The episode reveals march-in rights' potential risks and benefits, especially how the policy might impact innovation and patient access to future therapies.

Among the highlights in this episode:

02:25: Researchers found that 75% of all Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs between January 2008 and December 2017 were funded and researched by private companies, with only 19% of the approved drugs having origins in publicly supported research and development, and 6% originating in companies that were spun from publicly supported research programs

03:48: Kate shares her professional journey and current role at the Association of American Universities

06:06: Kate explains the concept of march-in rights under the Bayh-Dole Act, detailing its purpose, application, and implications for intellectual property generated from federally funded research

09:52: Dr. Popovian describes his involvement with University Pharmco and its mission to promote research commercialization, emphasizing the potential impact of march-in rights on such initiatives

12:19: Kate addresses why the debate around march-in rights is crucial from a patient's perspective, particularly concerning the potential chilling effect on innovation and drug development

17:18: Kate provides her perspective on how march-in rights could influence private sector investment, potentially driving it outside the United States, and discusses the international adoption of similar legislative frameworks

19:54: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc for a special live episode from the World Vaccine Congress in Washington, DC, where they delve into the latest developments in vaccine policy and economic research. This episode spotlights the congress's role as a vital hub for collaboration and innovation in the vaccine industry. Tune in to get an insider's view of the pivotal conversations shaping the future of vaccines.

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, Dr. Robert Popovian and Ben Blanc take a deep dive into GHLF’s latest vaccine study with guests Dr. Wayne Winegarden, Senior Fellow in Business and Economics at the Pacific Research Institute (PRI) and Director of PRI's Center for Medical Economics and Innovation, and Esteban Rivera, Associate Director of Data Science and Economics at GHLF.

Together, they delve into the study, which underscores the pivotal role pharmacists play in vaccination efforts and the urgent need for regulatory reform. They discuss how pharmacies enhance vaccine access and affordability, especially in marginalized communities, the challenges posed by regulatory barriers, and suggest ways to reform these barriers to improve vaccination rates.

Tune in to explore how pharmacies can play a pivotal role in public health through streamlined vaccination processes.

Among the highlights in this episode:

03:04: Dr. Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, discusses a statistic by the Center for Disease Control that nearly 60% of all flu vaccines were administered in pharmacies in the latest flu season, emphasizing the significant role pharmacists play in combating preventable diseases

03:53: Dr. Popovian explains the reasons behind GHLF’s new report on pharmacy-administered vaccinations, including previous findings on access in low-income communities and the preference for pharmacy vaccinations post-pandemic

06:18: Dr. Winegarden discusses the study's groundbreaking findings, particularly the complex and burdensome state regulations around vaccinations and their health and economic implications

09:10: Esteban Rivera elaborates on the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating patients at pharmacies compared to physician offices and highlights the equitable benefits of increased vaccine accessibility at pharmacies

10:24: Dr. Winegarden provides an example of the RSV vaccine to illustrate specific cost savings and health impacts of pharmacy versus physician office vaccinations

13:27: Esteban Rivera discusses the complexity of regulatory pathways for vaccination, emphasizing the need for simplification to reduce costs and improve accessibility

14:26: Dr. Popovian gives examples of states that have either streamlined or erected barriers for pharmacist immunization, particularly highlighting the negative impact on underserved communities in New York

16:16: Dr. Popovian advocates for state-level regulatory reform to grant pharmacists the same authority to immunize as physicians, stressing the importance of accessibility and convenience for patients 

18:24: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts

To access the full report, go to: https://ghlf.org/removing_barriers_to_pharmacy_vaccination/

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Healthcare Matters, our hosts dive into the impact of pharmacy reimbursement on vaccination rates with guest Vibhu Tewary, researcher and

Project Director at IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science. Through discussing a recent study, they reveal how a modest increase in reimbursement can lead to higher flu vaccination rates among Medicaid-covered adults. The episode also touches on the role of pharmacies in public health, the need for policy reform to enhance vaccine accessibility, and the potential for future research to further improve public health outcomes.

Among the highlights in this episode:

01:50: Vibhu shares his background in public health and policy, emphasizing his commitment to impactful research for patient access and health care improvements 

04:21: Vibhu discusses the key findings from a 2023 paper that highlighted pharmacies as major vaccination sites, with over 90% of COVID-19 vaccinations for adults provided through pharmacies in 2021 and 2022

06:24: Dr. Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, discusses the need to harmonize state laws to allow pharmacists to immunize more adults, addressing the disparities in pharmacy access and emphasizing the cost effectiveness of pharmacy-administered vaccinations

08:36: Dr. Popovian and Vibhu delve into the recent report co-authored by GHLF and IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science that establishes a direct link between increased pharmacy reimbursement rates and higher flu vaccination rates among Medicaid-covered adults 

You can find the full report at https://www.iqvia.com/insights/the-iqvia-institute/reports-and-publications/reports/trends-in-adult-vaccination-in-the-us

10:24: Vibhu outlines the methodology and key findings of the study, demonstrating that a $13 increase in reimbursement could lead to a six-percentage point increase in vaccination rates, consistent across gender and race

13:50: Dr. Popovian suggests aligning Medicaid reimbursement rates for vaccinations with those of Medicare to address disparities in vaccination access among underserved populations

15:28: Dr. Popovian and Vibhu discuss potential areas for future research, including the role of pharmacists in vaccine distribution, patient awareness, and addressing health equity in adult vaccination

18:17: Dr. Popovian shares some final thoughts

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF: bblanc@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Robert Popovian and Conner Mertens dive into the problematic practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) that prioritize profits over patient access to affordable medications. Focusing on the case of a generic asthma medication offered at a discount yet overlooked by PBMs, the hosts explore the deep-seated issues of misaligned incentives in health care. They also discuss innovative solutions to bypass the traditional pharmaceutical distribution system, aiming to enhance patient access and affordability.

Join our hosts as they explore the complexities of health care economics and the path towards a more equitable system.

Among the highlights in this episode:

02:21: Our hosts discuss the problematic practices of PBMs, such as refusing to cover cheaper, generic medications for profit motives

03:08: Dr. Popovian explains how rebate systems influence PBMs to prefer higher-priced brand-name drugs over generics, leading to misaligned incentives that do not favor cost savings for patients or employers

04:36: Our hosts touch upon how PBMs exclude drugs from formularies, not for efficacy reasons but for profit, impacting patient access and savings negatively

05:49: Dr. Popovian speaks on the potential benefits of pharmaceutical companies selling directly to consumers, bypassing PBMs and insurers, and how it could save patients money and increase access

10:01: Our hosts discuss how direct-to-consumer sales, and other models like direct sales to health providers or employers, could challenge the current pharmaceutical distribution system dominated by PBMs

13:09: Dr. Popovian and Conner discuss the importance of seeking ways to make health care more accessible and affordable

14:27: Conner shares his thanks and reflections as he says goodbye to the series

Contact Our Hosts

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF: rpopovian@ghlf.org

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF: cmertens@ghlf.org

A podcast series produced by Ben Blanc, Manager of Programs & Special Projects at GHLF.

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself, to podcasts@ghlf.org

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.