Widespread vaccination efforts declared measles eliminated in the United States in 2000. However, recent outbreaks have reignited public health concerns. The country is experiencing a growing number of measles cases with clusters reported in several states. A highly contagious virus, measles, poses serious risks, especially to unvaccinated individuals and vulnerable patient populations. Dr. John Schoen, Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information at the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence, discusses the current outbreak, measles vaccine strategies, and answers questions about prevention and public health impact with Stacy Lauderdale, Associate Vice President at the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence and your VerifiedRx program host.

Guest speakers: 

John Schoen, Pharm.D, BCPS

Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information

Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Host: 

Stacy Lauderdale, Pharm.D, BCPS

Associate Vice President

Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Show Notes: 

[01:12-03:30] Are we in an unprecedented situation in the United States?

[03:31-05:49] A brief overview about measles

[05:50-08:03] Overview of the MMR vaccine

[08:04-10:15] MMR vaccination rate in the United States

[10:16-12:27] Is there a link between autism and MMR vaccine

[12:28-14:47] Does the MMR vaccine cause measles?

[14:48-18:04] 1 vs. 2 doses of the MMR vaccine in adults

[18:05-21:25] Measles postexposure prophylaxis

[21:26-23:40] Vitamin A and measles

Links | Resources: 

Vizient Resources

Evidence Bites: 2025 Measles Outbreak

Resources

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Prothrombin complex concentrates (PCCs) are frequently used off label for the management of factor Xa inhibitor-associated major bleeding.

In 2018, accelerated approval was granted for andexanet alfa, a specific factor Xa inhibitor reversal agent, for reversal of apixaban and rivaroxaban in the setting of life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding.

Following accelerated approval, some clinical practice guidelines were updated to include recommendations for andexanet alfa preferentially over PCCs for reversal of life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding due to rivaroxaban or apixaban. Other guidelines stated no preference of andexanet alfa over PCC.

In 2020, Vizient convened an expert panel to critically appraise the literature and provide consensus-based, expert opinions on the utilization of pharmacological reversal agents for factor Xa-related major bleeding. Since then, the body of literature evaluating these agents has expanded to include a randomized controlled trial, ANNEXa-I, the results of which were submitted to the US Food and Drug Administration to convert the approval of andexanet alfa from accelerated to full approval.

Dr. Lisa Baumann-Kreuziger, Associate Professor of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Wisconsin and medical director of the Antithrombotic Therapy Management Program at Froedtert Health discusses the current status of management of factor Xa inhibitor-associated major bleeding with Dr. Kerry Schwarz, Senior Clinical Manager of Evidence-Based Medicine and Outcomes with the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence, and your program host.

Guest speakers: 

Host: 

Show Notes:

[02:25-04:26] The current state of hemostatic management in the setting of factor Xa inhibitor-related major bleeding

[04:27- 05:35] Limitations of available evidence making clinical practice and formulary decision making so challenging

[05:35 – 10:52] Publication of the first randomized controlled trial, ANNEXa-I, comparing andexanet alfa to usual care

[10:52-14:49] Meeting of the FDA advisory committee and subsequent complete response letter

[14:50-16:45] How we can approach clinical management of patients and formulary decision-making in the current state

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Drug shortages continue to pose significant challenges for hospitals and health systems. While they gained national attention during the COVID-19 pandemic, pharmacy departments have managed them for decades. During high-profile shortages, institutions must rapidly establish command centers, engage stakeholders, and implement plans for frontline staff. Once resolved, shortages often recede from immediate focus until the next crisis emerges. However, pharmacy departments consistently manage shortages on a daily basis, often without recognition.

Dr. Kyle Hoelting, Sr. Clinical Manager of Drug Information and Drug Shortages at Vizient, Dr. Heather Warhurst, Director of Drug Use Policy, Quality Initiative and Regulatory at IU Health, and Dr. Chris Nagy, Medication Sourcing and Supply Pharmacist at Intermountain Health join us to discuss a Vizient workgroup project designed to measure the impact of drug shortages and highlight the crucial role of pharmacists in their management.

Guest speakers: 

Heather Warhurst, Pharm.D, MHA

Director of Drug Use Policy, Quality Initiative and Regulatory

IU Health

Chris Nagy, Pharm.D, BCPS

Medication Sourcing and Supply Pharmacist

Intermountain Health

Kyle Holting, Pharm.D, BCPS

Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information

Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Host:

Stacy Lauderdale, Pharm.D, BCPS

Associate Vice President

Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Show Notes: 

[01:18-02:29] Heather and Chris introductions

[02:30-04:00] Vizient drug shortage key performance indicators (KPI) workgroup series

[04:01-10:04] Labor and Inventory drug shortage KPIs

[07:50-16:56] Patient Safety and Stress to Front Line Staff drug shortage KPIs

[16:57-18:32] Call to Action

Links | Resources: 

Key performance indicators for the management of drug shortages

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The widespread use of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in children has dramatically lowered the incidence of pneumococcal disease through direct and indirect effects. Despite this progress, pneumococcal pneumonia still leads to more than 200,000 adult hospitalizations annually in the United States. Older adults, individuals with underlying health conditions, and certain racial groups continue to experience higher rates of pneumococcal disease. Dr. John Schoen, Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information at the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence, joins Program Host Stacy Lauderdale to discuss the newest adult pneumococcal vaccine, PCV21, and recent updates to age-based pneumococcal vaccine recommendations.

Guest speakers: 

John Schoen, Pharm.D, BCPS

Senior Clinical Manager of Drug Information

Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Host: 

Stacy Lauderdale, Pharm.D, BCPS

Associate Vice President

Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

Show Notes: 

[01:25-02:53] Background on PCV21

[02:54-07:56] Difference between PCV20 and PCV21

[07:57-16:15] Discussing the new ACIP recommendation to move the universal age for pneumococcal vaccination from 65 years of age down to 50 years of age and older

[08:31-16:15] Why a healthy 50-year-old who has no risk factors for invasive pneumococcal disease should get a pneumococcal vaccination

[16:16-17:57] Summary of other changes in the most recent MMWR

[17:58-19:34] What organizations consider when selecting specific pneumococcal vaccines

[19:35-21:18] What’s in the pipeline for  pneumococcal vaccines

Links | Resources: 

Publicly available resources

Previous VerifiedRx podcasts on pneumococcal vaccines:

January 2024 MMWR - ACIP recommendations for the use of PCV in adults ≥ 50 years of age

Vizient client exclusive resources

2025 pneumococcal vaccines side-by-side comparison

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Prescription opioids continue to be the most frequently misused prescription drugs in the United States, having caused nearly 300,000 deaths over the past two decades. Signed into law in 2022, the No Pain Act expands Medicare reimbursement for specific non-opioid pain management options. Carolyn Liptak, Pharmacy Executive Director in the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence, and Dr. Phil Mentler, Senior Consulting Director at Vizient join Program Host Stacy Lauderdale to discuss the implications of the No Pain Act, which took effect on January 1, 2025.

Guest speakers: 

Carolyn Liptak, MBA, RPh

Pharmacy Executive Director

Vizient

Phillipe Mentler, Pharm.D, BCPS

Senior Consulting Director

Vizient

Host: 

Stacy Lauderdale, Pharm.D, BCPS

Associate Vice President

Vizient

Show Notes: 

[01:49-03:48] Background on the No Pain Act

[03:49-05:03] What is new as of January 1, 2025

[05:04-05:37] The difference between a hospital outpatient department versus an ambulatory surgical center

[05:38-06:30] Other drugs and or devices that are on the list other than Exparel

[06:31-07:42] What specifically prevents multi modal drugs and therapy from being added to the list

[07:43-08:24] Specific language that needs to be included in the FDA labeling for non-opioids to be considered for reimbursement under the Act

[08:25-10:50] Reimbursement basics of the NO PAIN Act

[14:32-15:44] Reimbursement

[15:45-17:04] The importance of opioids in pain management

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Historically, Vizient has published the Pharmacy Market Outlook biannually. This year, we are introducing the Spend Management Outlook, which integrates the comprehensive insights from the Pharmacy Market Outlook with the Vizient Budget Impact Report. This new report enhances strategic planning by aligning pricing projections across the healthcare supply chain and providing key market insights. Dr. Carina Dolan, Associate Vice President of Clinical Oncology, Pharmacoeconomics, & Market Insights, and Jeff King, Director of Research and Intelligence at Vizient, join Program Host Carolyn Liptak to discuss the unique features and critical importance of the new Spend Management Outlook.

Guest speakers: 

Carina Dolan, Pharm. D., MS Pharm, BCOP

Associate Vice President, Clinical Oncology, Pharmacoeconomics and Market Insights

Vizient

Jeff King

Research and Intelligence Director

Vizient

Host:

Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BS Pharm

Vizient

Show Notes: 

[01:06-01:56] Jeff’s background and role

[01:57-02:50] The transition from Pharmacy Market Outlook and Budget Impact Report to Spend Management Outlook

[02:51-03:28] Defining spend management

[03:29-04:43] Key insights into spend management categories med-surg and laboratory

[04:44-06:01] Key insights into spend management categories Capital equipment and physician preferences insights

[06:02-07:23] Enhancements to pharmacy projections of this edition

[07:24-08:39] Spend management projection methodology

[08:40-09:34] The spend management projections

Links | Resources:

Spend Management Outlook

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We anticipate there will be some policy changes and important issues to watch with the inauguration of the 47th president of the United States. Vizient’s office of public policy and government relations monitors, educates and advocates on key items of interest. They share informative updates, comment on proposed rules from agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and work with Congress on legislative priorities. Jenna Stern, Associate Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy at Vizient joins Program Host Carolyn Liptak to discuss the change over.

Guest speakers: 

Jenna Stern

Associate Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Public Policy

Vizient

Host:

Carolyn Liptak, MBA, RPh

Vizient

Show Notes: 

[00:56-01:15] Jenna’s background 

[01:16-02:38] Anticipation in DC since November

[02:39-04:26] What we should anticipate with the new Congress

[04:27-08:10] Trade and Tariffs

[08:11-10:37] What we should anticipate with the Executive Branch

[10:38-12:48] Policies to watch during transition

[12:48-13:34] Where listeners go for more information

[13:34-16:12] What issues are important to the new Congress

Links | Resources: 

Vizient Public Policy and Government Relations 

Vizient advocacy letters and Congressional statements 

Legislative and regulatory summaries 

China Tariffs document

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The pharmacy infusion market continues to shift administration of biologics and specialty medications to the home or other lower-cost sites of care. Much of this is driven by payers. This change brings clinical, patient, economic, and information system considerations. Dr. Steve Kennedy, Senior Consulting Director at Vizient Pharmacy Advisory Solutions joins Program Host Gretchen Brummel to discuss sites of care.

Guest speakers: 

Host: 

Show Notes: 

[00:44-01:25] Steve’s background 

[01:26-02:18] How has the industry evolved over your career

[02:19-03:51] Why there is a shift in where these medications are administered

[03:52-06:36] Who’s watching these patients at home or in other non-hospital-based infusion settings 

[06:37-7:34] How patients respond to change in site of care

[7:35-8:19] Is this shift realistic in rural areas where care outside of a hospital setting might not be consistently available

[8:20-9:30] Advocating or negotiating for patients when it doesn't align with the payer's interest

[9:31-10:23] How white bagging factors in

[10:24-11:32] What front line pharmacy staff needs to know

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Human rabies cases are fortunately rare in the US. Access to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis, and domestic animal vaccination programs, drive this public health success. This comes at a financial and human resources cost. Dr. Kyle Weant, clinical assistant professor and an emergency medical clinical pharmacy specialist at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy and Dr. Philippe Mentler, senior consulting director, join host Gretchen Brummel to discuss the use of rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine in patients who have been exposed and provide treatment pearls for frontline pharmacy practioners.

Guest speakers:

Kyle Weant, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, FCCP

Clinical Assistant Professor and an Emergency Medical Clinical Pharmacy Specialist

University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy

Philippe Mentler, PharmD, BCPS

Senior Consulting Director

Vizient

Host: 

Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS

VerifiedRx Host

Show Notes: 

[00:54-01:17] Kyle’s background information 

[01:18-03:31] Rabies as a disease

[03:32-05:13] Public Awareness

[05:14-07:06] Options right now for post-exposure prophylaxis

[07:07-10:01] Thoughts on dose rounding

[10:02-10:13] Is rabies immunoglobulin considered an essential medication that everyone should stock in their hospital pharmacy

[10:14-11:30] Who should be administering these drugs? And who's ensuring follow up of these patients?

[11:31-14:31] Potential pitfalls in patient management

[14:32-18:12] What should our frontline pharmacy staff know about post-exposure prophylaxis

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Data dominate nearly every sector and drug shortages are an area to leverage data solutions. Stephen Colvill, Senior Policy Advisor for Medical Supply Chains, The White House Domestic Policy Council and Dr Nikola Markoski, Vizient Manager of Pharmacy Analytics and Clinical Insights, join host Gretchen Brummel to explore novel approaches and future implications for data use cases in drug shortages.

Guest speakers: 

Stephen Colvill

Senior Policy Advisor for Medical Supply Chains, Domestic Policy Council The White House, Domestic Policy Council

This podcast was recorded in December 2023 prior to Stephen joining the federal government. The opinions expressed are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of  the United States government or any agency thereof.

At the time of recording, Stephen was Executive Director of RISCS and Assistant Research Director at the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy.

Nikola Markoski, PharmD, MBA, DPLA

Manager of Pharmacy Analytics and Clinical Insights

Vizient

VerifiedRx Host: 

Gretchen Brummel, PharmD, BCPS

Show Notes: 

[00:36-02:23] Guest’s background information 

[02:24-05:44] How using data can change the discussion of drug shortages

[05:45-09:23] Approaches that have been attempted so far in the data space

[09:24-12:01] Where things are going in the future

[12:02-15:23] How we get everybody on the same page

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