Has your insurer ever switched your drug without talking to you or your doctor? This is called a formulary exclusion. But what risk does this pose to patients suffering from chronic illness?

"There is some action that can be taken to prohibit this type of practice. Or at least—for the minimum—to mandate that pharmacy benefit management companies and insurers that are doing, and implementing such policies, are held accountable," says Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Among the highlights in this episode: 

1:09- Listener review

1:41- What is a drug formulary exclusion?

2:16- Who implements these formulary exclusion policies and how do they benefit from it?

2:50- Which drugs are most likely to be excluded from formularies

3:26- The impacts formulary exclusions have on people with chronic illness 

4:45- What it means when patients are forced to change medications 

6:04- How the care of a patient is being taken away from doctors because of formulary exclusion

7:02- What are the incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to follow these exclusionary guidelines?

8:25- What's being done about this practice? 

8:46- Robert shares the bottom line on personalized and precision medicine 

Contact our hosts: 

Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, rpopovian@ghlf.org 

Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF, cmertens@ghlf.org 

We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself to Healthcarematters@GHLF.org.

Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on our website or on your favorite podcast channel.

Has your insurer ever switched your drug without talking to you or your doctor? This is called a formulary exclusion. But what risk does this pose to patients suffering from chronic illness?
"There is some action that can be taken to prohibit this type of practice. Or at least&mdash;for the minimum&mdash;to mandate that pharmacy benefit management companies and insurers that are doing, and implementing such policies, are held accountable," says Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at the Global Healthy Living Foundation.
Among the highlights in this episode:&nbsp;
1:09- Listener review
1:41- What is a drug formulary exclusion?
2:16- Who implements these formulary exclusion policies and how do they benefit from it?
2:50- Which drugs are most likely to be excluded from formularies
3:26- The impacts formulary exclusions have on people with chronic illness&nbsp;
4:45- What it means when patients are forced to change medications&nbsp;
6:04- How the care of a patient is being taken away from doctors because of formulary exclusion
7:02- What are the incentives for pharmacy benefit managers to follow these exclusionary guidelines?
8:25- What's being done about this practice?&nbsp;
8:46- Robert shares the bottom line on personalized and precision medicine&nbsp;
Contact our hosts:&nbsp;
Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF, <a href="mailto:rpopovian@ghlf.org&nbsp;">rpopovian@ghlf.org&nbsp;</a>
Conner Mertens, Patient Advocate and Community Outreach Manager at GHLF, <a href="mailto:cmertens@ghlf.org&nbsp;">cmertens@ghlf.org&nbsp;</a>
We want to hear what you think. Send your comments, or a video or audio clip of yourself to <a href="mailto:Healthcarematters@GHLF.org">Healthcarematters@GHLF.org</a>.
Listen to all episodes of Healthcare Matters on <a href="https://ghlf.org/healthcarematters/">our website</a> or on your favorite podcast channel.

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 

Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 

The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 

www.ghlf.org

Welcome to Healthcare Matters! In this podcast, we talk about 'matters' in healthcare and why it matters to you! 
Our host Ben Blanc will speak with our talented Chief Science Officer Robert Popovian. And together, we will take on some pretty complex topics and distil them, so everyone can understand what is happening in the world of healthcare. 
The show is brought to you by the Global Healthy Living Foundation. 
www.ghlf.org

Healthcare Matters

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.

The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

A podcast that pulls back the curtain to help you make sense of complex healthcare economics and policy issues. Our goal is to help simplify the complexities in healthcare economics and policy issues for you.
The podcast is part of the Global Healthy Living Foundation Podcast Network and hosted by Dr. Robert Popovian, Chief Science Policy Officer at GHLF and Ben Blanc, Associate Director, Digital Production and Engagement at GHLF.

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