NPC in the News
NPC serves as a trusted resource on issues related to biopharmaceutical innovation, patient access, the value of medicines, and more. See below for recent articles citing NPC's research and expertise.
Uncertainties Still Loom Over IRA Negotiations
AIS Health, September 7, 2023
NPC's John O'Brien and Julie Patterson highlighted the unknowns that remain around implementation of the IRA’s drug-related provisions.
Restricted access to specialty drugs on the rise: What employers, advisors need to know
Benefits Pro, August 31, 2023
NPC's Rochelle Henderson spoke with Benefits Pro about the study published in Health Affairs Scholar demonstrating that health plans are increasingly restrictive when covering specialty medicines.
Drugmakers, investors say they've already changed bets in IRA's first year
Axios, August 29, 2023
Healthcare reporter Tina Reed quoted NPC's John O'Brien in her story of CMS's newly-announced price negotiations drug list.
Biden Administration targets drugs from J&J, Merck for controversial Medicare price negotiations
Yahoo Finance, August 29, 2023
Senior finance reporter, Anjalee Khemlani cited NPC's John O'Brien in her coverage of CMS's announcement, "Many important questions related to patient input, patient access and negotiated formularies, and therapeutic alternatives remain unanswered even as the process begins in earnest. There are also significant unintended consequences that are not yet well understood, such as how this process may create perverse incentives delaying launches, reducing subsequent indications, and chilling evidence generation."
Pharmaceutical industry rips 'draconian' price negotiation provision
Fierce Healthcare, August 29, 2023
Reporter Noah Tong quoted NPC's John O'Brien in his coverage of CMS's price negotiations list, "There are also significant unintended consequences that are not yet well understood, such as how this process may create perverse incentives delaying launches, reducing subsequent indications and chilling evidence generation.”
IRA drug list underscores challenges for industry
BioCentury, August 29, 2023
NPC's John O'Brien shared insights with reporter Steve Usdin.
Subscribers can read the full story
From Enemy Territory? NPC Nabs Ex-ICER VP
Pink Sheet, August 11, 2023
Sarah Karlin-Smith's article spotlights NPC's expanded leadership team.
NPC adds executive leaders, names Dr. Jon Campbell as chief science officer
Chain Drug Review, July 31, 2023
News of two additions to the NPC leadership team - Jon Campbell, PhD, MS as Chief Science Officer and Michael Pratt as Chief Communications Officer - was featured in this article, as well as in Politico Playbook.
Read the article in Chain Drug Review
Senate Targets Pharmacy Middlemen Amid Drug Price Deal Talks
Bloomberg Law, July 26, 2023
This article examines the Senate Finance Committee's work to address the practices of pharmacy benefit managers and includes perspective from NPC's John O'Brien.
10 Takeaways from LDI’s Drug Pricing Conference
Penn LDI, May 17, 2023
This recap of Penn LDI's Health Care Drug Pricing Conference quotes NPC's Dr. O'Brien discussing the potential harms of the drug pricing provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. He says, “I feel like we’re really close to hitting an artery. What is this going to do to innovation and development?"
PBMs, the Brokers Who Control Drug Prices, Finally Get Washington's Attention
Kaiser Health News, May 11, 2023
NPC weighs in on efforts to address the opaque practices of pharmacy benefit managers.
Co-Pay Assistance Works, and It's More Needed than Ever
Chain Drug Review, April 24, 2023
In this commentary, NPC's John M. O'Brien examines co-pay accumulators and the risks of benefit manager and insurance plan policies deterring adherence to medicines people need.
No Time to Be Complacent: Continuous Reform Needed to Achieve Pharmacoequity
The American Journal of Managed Care, March 24, 2023
It's Not Just the P&T Committee. Payers Are Putting Value Assessment Committees, Filters on Drug Coverage Decisions
Managed Healthcare Executive, March 22, 2023
The President’s victory lap on the success of price controls is premature
Sarasota Herald-Tribune, March 18, 2023
In this commentary, NPC's John M. O’Brien discusses the potential effects of new price controls and what the future holds for Medicare.
President Biden’s Proposal To Expand Medicare Price Controls A Sign Of Things To Come
Pink Sheet, March 8, 2023
Health Affairs Spending Council Releases Its Road Map For Action
Health Affairs Forefront, February 8, 2023
ICER: Majority of Payer Coverage Policies Support 'Key Elements of Fair Access' in Formularies
Endpoints News, January 17, 2023
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Additional Coverage
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Podcast: The Myth of Average: Time for Change
AiArthritis Voices Podcast, April 3, 2022
Tiffany Westrich-Robertson, CEO of AiArthritis and a person living with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, speaks with NPC's John O'Brien about the topic of the importance of innovation and treatment access in this podcast episode.
AMCP 2022: High Out-of-Pocket Costs Are Associated with Nonadherence Among Patients Taking Oral Cancer Drugs
Managed Healthcare Executive, March 31, 2022
This articles describes NPC-sponsored research presented at the AMCP annual meeting that shows that almost half of cancer patients on oral therapies are nonadherent.
Price Transparency Healthcare Policies Reduce Out-Of-Pocket Costs
PharmaNewsIntelligence, March 18, 2022
NPC President and CEO John M. O'Brien weighs in on issues around the importance of price transparency in health care and reducing patient out-of-pocket costs to improve access to medicines.
National Pharmaceutical Council Executive to Give Hartman Lecture
The Oxford Eagle (Miss.), March 8, 2022
The local Oxford, Miss., newspaper reports on NPC President and CEO John M. O’Brien presenting the annual Charles W. Hartman Memorial Lecture on Friday, March 11, at the University of Mississippi.
ICER to Develop Annual Drug Price Hike Reports For California
InsideHealthPolicy, March 4, 2022 (subscription required)
An article about the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) developing two reports for California cites NPC's concerns about ICER's flawed report methodology and notes that NPC President and CEO John O'Brien cautioned health policymakers in California against using the reports for policies that could harm patients.
Adopting Good Practices for High-Deductible Health Plans Can Help Employers Build Better Health Benefits
American Journal of Accountable Care, March 4, 2022
NPC and Gallagher Research & Insights discuss results from a survey demonstrating that employers are receptive to the idea of adopting good practices for health savings account-eligible high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and, in many cases, are already implementing them.
Experts Discuss How Employers Can Take on HSA HDHP Challenges While Encouraging Value-Based Care
American Journal of Managed Care, February 20, 2022
AJMC provides highlights from part 2 of a two-part webinar series, hosted by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions and moderated by NPC's Kimberly Westrich, focused on employer opportunities for improving value and crafting smarter deductibles in HSA-eligible HDHPs.
9 Employer Best Practices for High Deductible Health Plan Design
HealthPayerIntelligence, February 16, 2022
This article focuses on the recent report from NPC and Gallagher Research & Insights on ways employers can more effectively implement high-deductible health plans.
How Employers Can Leverage Value, Health Equity Incentives to Address Health Plan Affordability Concerns
American Journal of Managed Care, February 6, 2022
AJMC provides highlights from part 1 of a two-part webinar series, hosted by the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions and featuring NPC's Kimberly Westrich, addressing issues in health care coverage affordability and how equitable health benefits and value-based design can reduce cost while improving employee engagement.
The Myth of Average: Why Individual Patient Differences Matter
American Journal of Managed Care, January 19, 2022
AJMC featured on its website NPC's newly updated booklet The Myth of Average: Why Individual Patient Differences Matter, which explores the barriers patients face when navigating the health care system.
New CMS Rule Fails to Fix Medicaid Best Price
BioCentury (subscription required), January 14, 2022
NPC's Health Affairs Forefront article "Medicaid Best Price Volatility Could Inhibit Payment Innovation" was featured in this BioCentury piece on Medicaid best price legislation impeding patient access to expensive gene therapies.
Addressing Access Burdens
Pharmaceutical Executive, January 11, 2022
NPC President and CEO John M. O'Brien discusses the increasing barriers for patients to receiving needed therapies and how pharmaceutical companies are reaching out to employers directly to talk about health benefits.
Video: Kimberly Westrich on Micro-, Macro-Level Approaches to Improve Value-Based Benefit Design
American Journal of Managed Care, January 6, 2022
The final video in a four-part series with NPC Vice President of Health Services Research Kimberly Westrich addresses future opportunities for growth regarding value-based benefits. View part one, part two, and part three of the video series.
Pharmacy Outlook: John O’Brien, NPC
Chain Drug Review, January 3, 2022
To kick off the new year, NPC's John M. O’Brien writes in Chain Drug Review about the need for a more informed public discussion about the role that prescription drugs play in our health care system and in improving the lives of patients.