Durable, potentially curative therapies for genetic disorders and cancer have arrived. Short—even single dose—treatment regimens yield lasting health benefits, but large single payments will challenge the current reimbursement system.
In this virtual conference the FoCUS Project shares research and solutions to the challenge of paying for high cost, durable and curative therapies. You will leave understanding the estimated clinical trial pipeline of these types of therapies and their potential impact on the healthcare system.
August 18, 2020
10:30am – 2:00pm Eastern via Web conference
Registration is free
This intensive 1-day virtual conference will help you:
- Understand the expected impact of the therapy pipeline
- Explore patient and payer perspectives on financing challenges and solutions
- Become fluent in potential frameworks and issues for implementing cell and gene therapy financing agreements
Ideal for:
- Public and private insurers
- Healthcare consultants and analysts
- Patient advocates
- Pharma / biotech strategists

Agenda
In this virtual conference the FoCUS Project shares research and solutions to the challenge of paying for high cost, durable and curative therapies. You will leave understanding the estimated clinical trial pipeline of these types of therapies and their potential impact on the healthcare system.
Welcome and introductions
Mark Trusheim, Strategic Director, NEWDIGS; FoCUS Project Lead; Visiting Scientist at MIT Sloan School of Management
Gigi Hirsch, Executive Director, MIT Center for Biomedical Innovation (CBI); Director, NEWDIGS Initiative at MIT
Therapies, Stakeholder Perspectives, and Concerns
In this overview of the FoCUS Project, you will learn about how FoCUS is structured, the precision financing solutions the consortium has presented to date and how the work is moving forward.
Mark Hansan, President and CEO, CareMetx
Durable Cell and Gene Therapies Financial Impact
The FoCUS team has created a database cataloguing the durable and curative therapies that are coming to market and projected when therapies for certain indications will be available. With this data and analysis, attendees will understand the actuarial implications and insights, and be able to use tools to simulate their own risks, exposure and benefits.
Colin Young, Director, Drug Development Pipeline Research, NEWDIGS FoCUS Project
Panel & Discussion
Precision Financing Solutions: Medicaid Overview
Medicaid has allowed for early experimentation with unique financing and payment models. Value based agreements, payment programs based on population analysis, and other creative solutions have come from Oklahoma, Louisiana and Massachusetts, amongst others. But there are additional challenges to explore revolving around CAR-T and solutions for managed Medicaid.
John Glasspool, CEO and President, Anthos Therapeutics Inc and moderator
Paul Jeffrey, Director of Pharmacy, MassHealth
Terry Cothran, Senior Pharmacy Director, Oklahoma Health Care Authority
Sabrina Gibson, Vice President and the Chief Medicaid Actuary, WellCare
Coy Stout, Vice President, US Commercial Access & Reimbursement Solutions, Gilead Sciences
Laura Okpala, Director, Reimbursement Policy, Gilead Sciences
Panel & Discussion
Precision Financing Solutions: Commercial Overview
Our expert panel will discuss what’s happening “in the field” and share insights, tools and solutions. Learn how these financing solutions work – and don’t always work and hear about the ancillary challenges including data acquisition and creation of metrics. Specific challenges self-ensured employers, unions and reinsurers face will also be discussed.
Jane Barlow, Senior Advisor, NEWDIGS FoCUS Project and Moderator
Cindy Pigg, Vice President Managed Care, Cardinal Health
Karen Geary, Vice President, Strategy and Innovation, MedImpact Healthcare Systems, Inc.
Desiree Otenti, Senior Director, Medical Policy and Program Implementation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Matt Leming, VP, Director Employer Programs, PartnerRe
Crystal Kauder, Chief Pricing Actuary, US Health, PartnerRe
Recap and conclusion
Mark Trusheim, Strategic Director, NEWDIGS; FoCUS Project Lead; Visiting Scientist at MIT Sloan School of Management
Registration
Registration is free.
August 18, 2020
10:30am – 2:00pm Eastern via Web conference