Prescription for Better Access

In this episode, we interview Stephen Ubl, President and CEO of PhRMA, to discuss what is happening across the industry at a time of significant change. We talk about biopharma’s continued commitment to innovation, what member companies are doing to help patients access medicines more directly, and how new tools from the organization are supporting patient affordability. We also cover the im...

In this episode, we sit down with Alexander Hardy, President and CEO of BioMarin, to talk about his path to leading one of the world's premier rare disease companies. Alexander reflects on his experience across small molecules, biologics, oncology, and rare diseases, and how his work in access and patient services has shaped his thinking about leadership. We discuss the policy environment coming o...

  In this episode of Prescription for Better Access , we’re joined by William (Bill) Sarraille, a legal expert on drug access and reimbursement. He discusses two developments shaping the pharmacy benefit landscape: the FTC’s enforcement action involving Express Scripts and PBM reforms in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. Bill explains what these policy changes could mean for benefi...

Employers sit at the center of the U.S. health system as the primary funders of coverage for more than 150 million Americans, yet they struggle with rising costs, fragmented vendors, and uneven outcomes. In this episode, we talk with Dan Mendelson, MPP, CEO of Morgan Health at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Founder and former CEO of Avalere Health. We explore his journey from health policy to now le...

The FDA’s Accelerated Approval Program (AAP) aims to bring promising, potentially life-saving medicines to patients sooner by allowing approvals based on surrogate endpoints while requiring timely confirmatory evidence. In this episode, we speak with Bridget Doherty, MPH, MS (Johnson & Johnson Innovative Medicine), and Jeff Allen, PhD (Friends of Cancer Research). Bridget discusses her team’s revi...

In this episode, we talk with Richard Xie , Senior Health Economist at RA Capital, and Gunnar Esiason , Senior Director of Patient Engagement at Raven (RA Capital Ventures), about value frameworks in pharma. We unpack how Generalized Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (GCEA) builds on traditional Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA) and differs from ICER ’s model. The conversation explores what these approa...

In this episode, former CMS official Jon Blum reflects on the evolution and impact of the IRA’s drug provisions—from foundational drivers and political trade-offs to how 2026 Part D redesign and the M3P cost-smoothing program are reshaping access. We explore why M3P adoption remains limited, how CMS is monitoring plan behavior around negotiated pricing, and what shrinking standalone Part D options...

At ACCESS US 2025, our live podcast The Future of Access features four experts exploring how to improve drug affordability and access while maintaining innovation. With rising drug costs, we ask: What bold models are emerging? We cover benefit design, PBMs, AI, evolving pharmacy models, and whether markets can act before regulation. Conference Overview Sarah Emond – ICER John O’Brien – National Ph...

Specialty drug benefit design isn't just one decision — it triggers a domino effect impacting employer and health plan costs, patient access, care delivery and patient cost-sharing. In this episode, we unpack PSG’s latest research on how employers and health plans are rethinking specialty strategies amid rising pressure: cost management as a top priority, movement toward rebate alterna...

<p>In this episode, we interview Brian Reid, the founder of Reid Strategic and the creator and editor of our favorite industry newsletter, the Cost Curve. Brian shares his journey to create the Cost Curve and how he navigates the onslaught of information to identify the most important issues of the day. We also get his take on what he calls the highest “importance-to-attention&...

In this episode, we explore the complex and often debated concept of value in prescription drugs. They discuss how different stakeholders—payers, manufacturers, providers, regulators, and patients—define value, and how methodologies like health technology assessments (HTA) and cost-effectiveness analyses shape drug pricing and access. With insights from leading experts, the conversatio...

In this episode, we interview Sarah Emond, MPP, President and CEO of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). Sarah joined ICER over 15 years ago as Chief Operating Officer and was appointed to lead the organization following the retirement of Dr. Steven Pearson. Sarah outlines her vision for ICER and the priorities for strengthening the framework and collaboration to achieve their m...

In this episode, we sit down with Stacie Dusetzina, Ph. D., a leading health economist from Vanderbilt University Medical Center to discuss the critical healthcare and policy trends shaping 2025. From shifts in federal leadership to the evolving impact of the Inflation Reduction Act, our guest provides expert insights on what to expect in drug pricing, health insurance, and patient access in the c...

In our second of three episodes in conjunction with members of ACCESS Forum, we engage with leading experts to uncover the multifaceted challenges of access and affordability in cell and gene therapies. Our conversation investigates how these treatments' innovative yet complex landscape leads to challenging regulatory pathways, pricing models, and reimbursement strategies.  Alicia Silver, MPP...

In this episode, we sit down with leading Market Access experts and members of ACCESS Forum to compare and contrast the drug pricing and access systems worldwide and the US. Our discussion delves into the distinct approaches taken by government vs. private markets, examining how regulatory environments, pricing controls, and reimbursement processes impact patient access to innovative therapies. We...

In this episode, we explore the evolving role of healthcare and patient advocates and how this profession has become an essential part of the healthcare system. We begin by defining what a healthcare advocate is and tracing the development of the profession over the years. Key milestones are discussed, such as establishing codes of ethics, training, and certification processes. We also share real-...

In this episode, we explore the evolution and future of the Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) industry with insights from two seasoned pharma managed care executives. We discuss the early role of PBMs, their acquisition by pharmaceutical companies, and subsequent industry consolidation. We examine how vertical integration of the PBMs transformed their business model, including the restricted formu...

In this episode, we dive into the pharmaceutical industry's research and drug development side and the real threat that today’s access and affordability challenges and policies pose to innovation. While innovation often starts in universities with government support, biotech, and pharma companies take on the tough, costly job of clinical trials, development, and approval of new drugs. Invest...

This is the second of two episodes dedicated to Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, where we were honored to be a media partner. In this episode, we learn from Sarah Butler, Chief Commercial Officer of ADVI Health and Lindsay Greenleaf, JD, MBA, Head of Federal and State Policy for ADVI Health how the 2024 election will impact patient access and affordability. Umar Afridi, Founder and CEO of Foundation...

Asembia’s AXS24 Summit, a pinnacle of specialty drug and healthcare discussions, concluded earlier this month. We are thrilled to share that our podcast was selected as a media partner for this esteemed event. This is the first of two episodes dedicated to AXS24, where Scott and Mark had the opportunity to interview several key speakers and attendees. In this episode, we bring you the insigh...

In this episode, we explore the 340B Drug Pricing Program, an essential yet complex component of the American drug supply landscape that aims to enable healthcare entities to offer more affordable medication to underserved populations. We interview Antonio Ciaccia, a drug pricing and 340B expert who provides an in-depth look at how the program works, its financial incentives, and how stakeholders...

In this important podcast episode, we interview Victor Bulto, President, US for Novartis, to discuss the company's efforts to develop groundbreaking treatments while ensuring accessibility and affordability for patients. We delve into how the pharmaceutical industry navigates numerous post-FDA approval barriers to launch new drugs and the importance of market access, patient support services, and...

Biosimilars are entering the market at their fastest pace ever. In this episode, we interview a renowned health economist and an expert consultant in biosimilar distribution and patient support to explore the complex landscape of biosimilars, including examining the hurdles and breakthroughs in achieving acceptance by payers and providers and how best to improve patient access and affordability in...

Scott and Mark welcome Dr. Mark McClellan, a distinguished health policy expert who has served as the Commissioner of the FDA and the Administrator of CMS, to look ahead at the major policy activities in 2024. They discuss how the government's role as regulator and purchaser of drugs will influence the drug industry and the patient's ability to access and afford medicines this year. They also disc...

In our 2023 podcasts, there have been a series of revelations about the complexity and unintended consequences related to drug access and affordability. This episode explores the essential underlying tension between the notion that affordability and access are deteriorating while science is advancing so rapidly. We interview Rachel King, CEO of Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), to explo...