Can Biosimilars Save You Money?

07/15/22 • 34 min

2 Listeners

Biosimilars have the potential to lower costs. But due to middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), those savings don’t always trickle down to patients at the pharmacy counter. How can we fix this system?

Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, joins the podcast to explain what biosimilars are, why uptake has been slow, and what can be done to improve patient access and lower costs.

We also hear from Lauren Kopsick, who shares her experience navigating burdensome step therapy requirements for her son’s care.

Hosts:

Terry Wilcox, Executive Director, Patients Rising

Dr. Robert Goldberg, “Dr. Bob,” Co-Founder and Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

Kate Pecora, Field Correspondent

Guests:

Julie Reed, Executive Director, Biosimilars Forum

Lauren Kopsick, Founder, Parent it Forward

Becca Vacha, Patient Correspondent

Links:

Patients Rising Now Announces Masterclass Graduates

Patient Action Center

Learning Module: The Role Biologics & Biosimilars Can Play in Healthcare

Lend Your Voice to Support the Safe Step Act Here

Need help?

The successful patient is one who can get what they need when they need it. We all know insurance slows us down, so why not take matters into your own hands? Our Navigator is an online tool that allows you to search a massive network of health-related resources using your zip code so you get local results. Get proactive and become a more successful patient right now at PatientsRisingConcierge.org

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: [email protected]

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising.

Julie Reed, executive director of the Biosimilars Forum, joins the podcast to explain what biosimilars are, why uptake has been slow, and what can be done to improve patient access and lower costs.

We also hear from Lauren Kopsick, who shares her experience navigating burdensome step therapy requirements for her son’s care.

Hosts:

Terry Wilcox, Executive Director, Patients Rising

Dr. Robert Goldberg, “Dr. Bob,” Co-Founder and Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

Kate Pecora, Field Correspondent

Guests:

Julie Reed, Executive Director, Biosimilars Forum

Lauren Kopsick, Founder, Parent it Forward

Becca Vacha, Patient Correspondent

Links:

Patients Rising Now Announces Masterclass Graduates

Patient Action Center

Learning Module: The Role Biologics & Biosimilars Can Play in Healthcare

Lend Your Voice to Support the Safe Step Act Here

Need help?

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: [email protected]

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising.

Previous Episode

Healthcare’s Digital Future

Tired of telling your health care history over and over again to providers? Jessica Lunshof, a former nurse and caregiver found herself in this cycle that wasted time and placed an emotional burden on her and her family.

She joins the podcast to share how she took this challenge and developed a digital solution - TAMVOES - to compile a patient’s health care data into one location. Dr. Bob and Terry discuss how these digital services are on the rise to make the healthcare system easier to navigate for the chronic disease community.

And Kate speaks with Tharaniya, an advocate on a mission to raise awareness of the importance of health literacy. Plus, patient correspondent Jemela Williams underscores the critical need for accessible mental health services.

Hosts:

Terry Wilcox, Executive Director, Patients Rising

Dr. Robert Goldberg, “Dr. Bob,” Co-Founder and Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

Kate Pecora, Field Correspondent

Guests:

Jessica Lunshof, Co-Founder and President, TAMVOES

Tharaniya Vallipuram, Host, “Sit, Sip, Synapse”

Jemela Williams, Patient Correspondent

Links:

Terry’s Tweet: Generic cost with insurance versus without

Health insurers are now required to post the price they pay to hospitals

TAMVOES

Need help?

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: [email protected]

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising.

Next Episode

The Fight for Access with Government Agencies

For 17 years, the gastroparesis community has fought for the FDA to allow it access to a treatment they say is necessary to improve quality of life. Gastroparesis advocate Michael Smith details the efforts to make sure that patient voices spur action at the FDA. Plus, what this means for the broader impact of the FDA across the entire chronic disease community.

Terry and Dr. Bob also discuss the reignited conversation on drug pricing policies in Washington. Kate speaks with migraine advocate Yuri about the misconceptions about this chronic illness and the struggle to get insurance coverage for necessary care.

Hosts:

Terry Wilcox, Executive Director, Patients Rising

Dr. Robert Goldberg, “Dr. Bob,” Co-Founder and Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

Kate Pecora, Field Correspondent

Guests:

Michael Smith, Former Vice President of G-PACT and volunteer advisor to the Oley Foundation

Yuri Cárdenas, Patient and Migraine Advocate

Links:

Dems try again on drug prices FDA user fee timeline slipping, raising layoff-notice concerns

Feeling litigious, Vanda files another lawsuit against the FDA

Patients Rising Now Announces Spring Advocacy Masterclass Graduates

Need help?

Have a question or comment about the show, or want to suggest a show topic or share your story as a patient correspondent?

Drop us a line: [email protected]

The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising, nor do the views and opinions stated on this show reflect the opinions of a guest’s current or previous employers.