Meeting Website

Target Audience

You are encouraged to bring as many members of your hospital teams as possible, so all can learn and gain from the expertise assembled at one convenient event. Among those who will benefit from this conference: chief executive officers, administrators, senior executives, trustees, clinical and nurse leaders, finance officers and business office leaders, health care attorneys, compliance officers, quality and patient safety directors, department managers, public relations and marking directors, human resource directors, education and staff development directors, physician leaders, medical group managers, auxilians and volunteers, Healthcare Financial Management Association and American College of Healthcare Executives of Iowa members.

Description

Increasing drug costs are driving overall health care trend, impacting hospital budgets and the patients they serve. The American Hospital Association recently reported that average total drug spending per admission increased by 18.5 percent between 2015 and 2017. One in four patients say it’s difficult for them to afford their medications. This panel will discuss prescription drug cost drivers and approaches to managing costs, utilization and access from a provider, health system and payer perspective.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss current issues leading to increased drug prices.
• List ways utilization and access to prescription drugs can be improved.
• Identify strategies health care organizations are using to manage the prescription drug spend.

Moderator

Carl Behne became CEO of Greene County Medical Center in 2012 after four months as COO. Prior to joining Greene County Medical Center, Behne was employed by Great River Health System in West Burlington where he most recently served as director of business development and outreach. Behne has a master’s degree in health care administration from Des Moines University and is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Panelists

R. Mathew Hosford, RPh is vice president and chief pharmacy officer for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Des Moines where he leads both the clinical and operational facets of the pharmacy program to successfully manage rising drug cost trends. Hosford has more than 15 years of experience in pharmacy benefit management. Previously, he worked for First Health Services, a Coventry HealthCare Company, where he was responsible for the implementation of pharmacy benefit management programs for various state Medicaid programs. Hosford is a veteran of the US Army Reserve and was twice awarded the Bronze Star and a Combat Action Badge for his service during Operation Iraqi Freedom. A native of Wales, UK, Hosford received his pharmacy degree from Drake University and has been a registered pharmacist in Iowa since 1996.

Megan Romine, DO, MHA, FACP,  is medical director for UnityPoint Accountable Care in West Des Moines where she champions high quality, high value care for a broad network of patients and providers. She has specific interest and experience in clinical protocol development, predictive and prescriptive analytics and translating data and evidence-based practice into functional workflows for patient care teams. Romine practices general internal medicine in both the clinic and hospital settings.

Relevant to the content of this CME activity, Dr. Romine indicated she has no financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Greg Young, PharmD is market director of pharmacy for MercyOne Des Moines and has been in various pharmacy leadership positions in Dubuque and Des Moines for more than 30 years. He leads a team of pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who contribute to the care of inpatients and outpatients in both hospitals and ambulatory pharmacies. Young received his doctor of pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa.