Track 1: Clinical Challenges and Recommendations for Managed Care Web Activity
Track 2: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Pharmacy Management Strategies for Managed Care Web Activity

• Release date: September 25, 2011
• Expiration date: March 25, 2013
• Estimated time to complete activity: 1.0 hours for Track 1 and 1.0 hours for Track 2
• Compatible with IE 6 and up, Firefox, Safari

Target Audience

This activity has been designed to meet the educational needs of medical directors and pharmacy directors from health plans, HMOs, integrated health systems, employers, quality organizations, and other managed care organizations (MCOs), as well as managed care-affiliated care team members involved with patient evaluation, education, and follow-up for patients with HCV including physicians, pharmacists, registered nurses, and case managers.

Purpose Statement:

In the U.S., an estimated 3.2 million Americans are living with chronic HCV. Each year an estimated 17,000 people become infected with HCV. Chronic HCV is the primary reason for liver transplants, which cost about $280,000 per patient leading to an annual cost of nearly $300 million to the U.S. health care system. Thus, society needs new therapies that increase the sustained virologic response rates of patients with HCV.

Because studies show a substantial and increasing use of health care resources by members with this disease and because current treatment options are limited due to the fact that many patients with chronic HCV infection fail to respond to current therapy, or respond only poorly, there is a need to improve treatment outcomes for this serious and potentially fatal liver disease. Medical directors, pharmacy directors, and clinical pharmacists all play important roles in determining medical necessity, drug benefit–related policy, and therapeutic guidelines. These areas are guided by clinical, financial, and behavioral factors that must be sufficiently balanced to have the greatest impact on patient outcomes. Plans need HCV care management programs that offer better education, monitoring adherence, and vigilance for assessing side effects with HCV therapies.

Educational Objectives (Track 1)
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Assess the clinical challenges of managing patients with HCV within a managed care setting
• Review the evolving evidence on current and emerging treatment options for HCV including efficacy, safety, and therapeutic options
• Provide accurate and appropriate counsel as part of the treatment team
• Provide appropriate care and counsel for patients and their families

Educational Objectives (Track 2)
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Identify techniques for MCOs to determine the overall cost-effectiveness of HCV therapies
• Evaluate pharmacy benefit management programs, including methods that MCOs can implement to improve overall patient outcomes for patients with HCV
• Provide accurate and appropriate counsel as part of the treatment team
• Provide appropriate care and counsel for patients and their families

Distinguished Faculty (Track 1)

Bruce R. Bacon, MD Professor of Internal Medicine Co-Director, Liver Center Department of Internal Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology St. Louis University School of Medicine Click here for biography

Paul Y. Kwo, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Indiana University Click here for biography

Distinguished Faculty (Track 2)

Jeffrey D. Dunn, PharmD, MBA Formulary and Contract Manager Select Health, Inc. Click here for biography

Fadia T. Shaya, PhD, MPH Professor Department of Pharmaceutical Health Services Research University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Click here for biography

Activity Agenda (Track 1)

Improving Treatment Success Rates for HCV in a Managed Care Setting
Bruce R. Bacon, MD

Assessing the Evolving Evidence of HCV Treatment Options
Paul Y. Kwo, MD

Activity Agenda (Track 2)

Optimizing HCV Value for Patients and Plans
Fadia T. Shaya, PhD, MPH

HCV Pharmacy Management Techniques: Emerging Strategies for Managed Care Professionals Jeffrey D. Dunn, PharmD, MBA

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Accrediation Statement
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint sponsorship of Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and Impact Education, LLC. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation (per Track)
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacist Continuing Medical Education

Accrediation Statement

	Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

Credit Designation (per Track)
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine designates this continuing education activity for 1.0 contact hours (0.10 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

• Track 1 Universal Activity Number: 0809-9999-11-106-H01-P
  

  o If you have received credit for UPN 0809-9999-11-002-L01-P, you are not eligible for this activity

• Track 2 Universal Activity Number: 0809-9999-11-107-H01-P
  

  o If you have received credit for UPN 0809-9999-11-020-L01-P, you are not eligible for this activity

Type of Activity
Knowledge-based

Nursing Continuing Medical Education

Credit Designation (per Track)
This educational activity for 1.0 contact hours is provided by Postgraduate Institute for Medicine.

Accrediation Statement

	Postgraduate Institute for Medicine is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM) assesses conflict of interest with its instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of CME activities. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are thoroughly vetted by PIM for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies utilized in this activity, and patient care recommendations. PIM is committed to providing its learners with high quality CME activities and related materials that promote improvements or quality in healthcare and not a specific proprietary business interest of a commercial interest.

The planners and managers reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of this CME activity:

Method of Participation and Request for Credit
There are no fees for participating in and receiving CME/CE credit for this activity. During the period September 25, 2011, through March 25, 2013, participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) successfully complete the online post-test, with a passing score of 70% or better; 4) complete the online evaluation form. Upon successful completion of post-test and evaluation, you will have access to an immediate online certificate.

Disclosure of Unlabeled Use
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. Postgraduate Institute for Medicine (PIM), Impact Education, LLC, and Merck & Co., Inc., do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of PIM, Impact Education, LLC, and Merck & Co., Inc. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclaimer
Participants have an implied responsibility to use the newly acquired information to enhance patient outcomes and their own professional development. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities.

Media
Internet

Fee Information
There is no fee for this educational activity.