MDRP 2013 Track 2: Finance

This week we'll be featuring MDRP 2013 event posts from our content partners, Huron Life Sciences. Today's author, Dana Zelig, recaps our Track 2 Session: Finance 

As anticipated, attendance at MDRP 2013 was both impressive and diverse, with delegates from pharma manufacturers, external counsel, consultants and system providers, state Medicaid agencies, and Federal programs. To keep so many people interested and engaged, IIR organized Tuesday afternoon’s sessions to allow attendees to move seamlessly between tracks to catch presentations on their hot topics, or by their favorite presenters. This was evident in the Financial Implications to Government Pricing Programs track, where the dynamics of the room changed with each session.

David Chan and Ari Ilan from IMS Health provided their insights on the commercial process and how it impacts GP. Sometimes, especially at large organizations, people are put in a silo and have little visibility to processes outside of theirs. But as IMS outlined, Commercial and GP must go hand in hand to maximize profitability and reduce risk.

Jennifer Lospinoso of KPMG spoke about her experience assisting pharma clients with Accruing and Forecasting. Her insight extended not just to traditional accruals performed by Finance functions, but also to incorporating Medicaid payments, and preparing for the AMP Final Rule.

Jennifer Norton of Vertex Pharmaceuticals discussed the difference between Fee for Service and Managed Care Organization rebates, and how it can impact manufacturers. She emphasized the importance of looking at these rebates from all angles, because they are viewed differently by people in different parts of your organization. It’s an issue that could affect people at every level of your organization, so make sure you know what questions to ask.

Stephen Ruscus from Morgan Lewis presented on the Branded Prescription Drug Fee, and provided background on the genesis of the fee as well as steps for calculating it. He fielded questions from manufacturers with very real concerns about where to get the data they needed to perform the calculations.

Finally, Chris Cobourn of CIS wrapped up the track by giving the GP professionals in the room the steps they need to stand on their GP soapbox and take ownership of requirements impacting their organizations. He aptly noted that even though we are waiting for the AMP Final Rule, we are by no means sitting on our hands with nothing to do. We are busy now, and we’re going to get busier once the Final Rule comes out, so we might as well get our ducks in a row.

MDRP 2013 Track 1: Methodology

This week we'll be featuring MDRP 2013 event posts from our content partners, Huron Life Sciences. Today's author, Clay Willis recaps our day 2 Methodology track. 

Another great day at the MDRP 2013 Conference. In the afternoon session, the Methodology track (Track 1) covered a lot of interesting topics that are relevant for manufacturers today. In the first session, David Buckley of GlaxoSmithKline kicked off the track by discussing how to use State Invoices to Validate CMS Unit Rebate Amounts (URA). There was a general theme that manufacturers calculate their own URA’s internally and validate them when they receive the invoices from the states. David provided numerous considerations that manufacturers should look in to. This was a great session and topic to kick off the methodology session.

In the next session, there was a diverse panel with a lot of experience within the industry and on the topic. Jeff Park of Genentech, Mark Linver of Huron Life Sciences, and Robert LaPorte of West-Ward Pharmaceuticals each discussed how to Plan and Effects of Acquiring or Divesting a Product. Based on their experience they stressed that when going through an acquisition or divesting, they key is having a plan in place ahead of time and ensuring Government Pricing methodologies are in sync prior to selecting a system. There is a soft people side of these situations and it is a much easier process if you have buy-in from the business and IT.

In the next session, John Shakow of King and Spalding focused on Government Pricing Policies and Methodologies – The Foundation of Compliance. John’s key theme was that “Documentation is a Compliance Requirement” and provided various OIG guidance as to why this was the case. John provided a very thorough presentation where he covered all types of Government Pricing documentation and what would be included in each of these document. This presentation is a must get because it is a great reference to have internally and do reference on how to develop that element of a compliant Government Pricing department for manufacturers.

In the second to last session, Rick Moore of CIS covered Lessons Learned on Bona Fide Service Fees and Fair Market Value. This is one of the hottest areas within the industry right now and there were a lot of interest from the audience. Rick covered his thoughts on the four part test, the FMV definition, and lesson learned based on recent projects. There is not much guidance around this area but one thing is clear “ Manufacturers must do their due diligence and document everything around service fees.

In the last session, there was a panel of Miree Lee of M. Lee Consulting and Tom Evegan of CIS who covered Understanding Company Needs when Acquiring and Authorized Generic. They covered a lot of interesting perspective and real life examples of how this affects the various calculations. Interesting enough, this is one presentation you must download due to the checklist they provide for manufacturers at the end.

This track was great and the main topics within this track were pretty consistent throughout the day, which resulted in the audience being very interested in what the sessions offered. Great job to IIR and to each of the presenters around their topics. As a take away, manufacturers should look into ways of being proactive and always document what they are doing. Cannot wait to wake up tomorrow for another great day of sessions.

There is Something For Everyone at the 17th Annual Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit!

The government reimbursement landscape is constantly changing. Policy, operations, and data challenges are in constant influx, and each change affects the pharmaceutical and biotechnology professionals working in the public reimbursement space.

What has remained constant for 17 years, is that IIR's Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit, is the go to event for everyone in the industry.  This year, it will take place September 10-12 in Chicago, IL.

Every year the audience grows and this year we’ve expanded the program to ensure that MDRP has something for everyone.

Are you NEW to MDRP?

• • You will learn how to make calculations, the status of various government programs, and maintain basic compliance at your organization at the MDRP Compliance Academy.
• • Don't miss a full track on Medicaid Rebate Operation Implementation for Manufacturers where industry leaders from King & Spalding, Hogan Lovells, Amgen and Johnson & Johnson will walk you through some of the biggest challenges in operations today.

Are you an experienced drug pricing executive?

• • Identify new approaches to improve operations and enhance governance at the 2nd Annual Senior Leadership Forum.
• • CMS representatives will clarify your pressing questions at the annual CMS Policy and Operations Update session.
• • Hear from North Carolina, Illinois, Kansas, and more at the full track on State Contracts, Reporting and Operations Issues and Strategies and learn how their states are dealing with invoicing and contracting for both FFS and MMC.

Are you a financial executive?

• • The Financial Implications of MDRP and other Government Pricing Programs track, is where you will hear insights from some of the leading consulting firms in the space
• • The inaugural Life Science Financial Leadership Forum, where pharmaceutical finance thought leaders discuss on a macro-level how government pricing and contracting ties to the health and stability of each pharma company.

Are you a generic drug manufacturer?

• • Hear from the top generic companies at the half day symposium MDRP and Other Public Sector Reimbursement Programs for Generic Drug Manufacturers as they discuss key topics including how to maintain Federal and State compliance and managing the portfolio when there are Generics and Authorized Generics at the same company.

Are you a woman working in GP?

• • The Women’s Government Programs Leadership Forum is for women at all stages in their careers to meet to exchange, share and hear lessons learned from the industry’s most seasoned leaders. Keynoted by Carolyn Buck Luce, Global Pharmaceutical Sector Leader and the Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association Woman of the Year, it is an event not to be missed.

For more information on this year’s program, download the brochure.

As a reader of the Healthcare: From Policy to Practice blog, you receive an exclusive discount of 25% off of the standard price when you register to join us at the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit this September 10-12, 2012 in Chicago, IL. Simply use priority code P1758BLOG. Do you have any questions about the event? Feel free to contact Jennifer Pereira.