Mastering the Art of Prior Authorization to Improve Patient Access to PCSK9 Inhibitors
Release Date: June 19, 2019
Expiration Date: June 19, 2020
Estimated Time to Completion: 0.75 hour(s)
Faculty
Target Audience
This educational activity is directed toward lipidologists, cardiologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other specialty healthcare providers (HCPs) interested in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
Summarize the findings from CV outcomes studies of PCSK9i
Identify specific patient populations that would benefit from LDL-C lowering utilizing PCSK9i therapies
Apply the guidance from the latest clinical recommendations for the use of PCSK9i
Implement strategies to overcome common obstacles and potential solutions to increase patient access to
PCSK9i
Directions to the Learner
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME credit for this activity. During the period of June 19, 2019 through June 19, 2020 participants must:
Read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures
Complete the pretest
Study the educational activity
Complete the posttest and the evaluation form
A statement of credit will be issued only upon receipt of a completed activity evaluation form and a completed posttest with a score of 70% or better.
Accreditation
Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation
Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. requires instructors, planners, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of this activity to disclose any real or apparent conflict of interest they may have as related to the content of this activity. All identified conflicts of interest are thoroughly vetted by Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies mentioned in the materials or used as the basis for content, and appropriateness of patient care recommendations.
The following faculty/planners reported the financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they or their spouse/life partner have with commercial interests related to the content of these CME activities:
James Underberg, MD
Consulting Fees: Amarin, Amgen
Fees for non-CME Services: Amarin, Alexeron, Amgen, Regeneron, Sanofi
Contracted Research: Aegerion, Pfizer and Sanofi
Other (Steering Committee Member): Aegerion Lower Registry Trial
The Integrity CE planners/managers have nothing to disclose.
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. Integrity Continuing Education, Inc. and Amgen 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 any organization associated with this activity. Please refer to the official prescribing information for
each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.
Disclaimer
The information provided at this CME activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to
substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician relative to diagnostic and treatment options of
a specific patient’s medical condition
Provided by Integrity Continuing Education, Inc.
This activity is supported by educational funding provided by Amgen.
MOA of PCSK9i
PCSK9 Inhibitors
PCSK9i Therapies
PCSK9i: Dosage and Administration
PCSK9i CVOTs
PCSK9i CVOTs
Maximum approximately 15 weeks
PCSK9i CVOTs
FOURIER: LDL-C
PCSK9i CVOTs
FOURIER: Decreased Risk of CV Outcomes with Evolocumab
PCSK9i CVOTs
PCSK9i CVOTs
PCSK9i CVOTs
ODYSSEY Outcomes: Decreased Risk of Recurrent CV Events with Alirocumab
“High initial rejection rates are deeply troubling. Health plans are using prior authorization to block tens of thousands of heart patients from the medication that their physician prescribed. These are patients who don’t respond adequately to traditional statins, yet health plans are cutting costs at their expense.”
-Brian Kennedy, Executive Director, Global Alliance for Patient Access
PCSK9i agents have the potential to fill an important treatment gap for patients at residual CV risk despite taking maximally tolerated statin therapy
Recent data indicate that the majority of PCSK9i prescriptions are initially denied by insurance providers, and many are still ultimately rejected upon appeal
Tools are available to help clinicians improve patient access to PCSK9i therapy
