:: HealthBridge

What differentiates HealthBridge from its competitors?
How does reimbursement help patients get access to prescribed therapies?
How can HealthBridge support a product launch?
How does HealthBridge enhance relationships with practitioners?
Why is educating payers important in helping patients get access to products?

What differentiates HealthBridge from its competitors?

HealthBridge is committed to a "patient first" approach. We serve as a single source for both patient access and practitioner access solutions.

To maximize success, HealthBridge bases recommendations on solid market data, enabling clients to more effectively convey the value of their products to key constituents and customers.

Our knowledge of the industry positions us to work closely with pharmaceutical manufacturers to simplify their marketing and supply chain programs. In addition, we are well respected by payers because we are thorough and provide them with the information they need to make sound decisions. Our high level of customer service and integrity has enabled us to build strong business relationships with the key players in the healthcare system to directly benefit our clients and their products.

How does reimbursement help patients get access to prescribed therapies?

On a strategic level, we communicate with payers about the value of our clients' products so they have accurate information upon which to base policy decisions. Our programs provide direct support to patients and practitioners.'

When we receive a referral, we immediately identify the breakdown in the process and work to address it. Sometimes the problem is as simple as a paper that has been filed incorrectly. Other times, it is as complex as a rejected claim that requires intensive research to support a medical appeal. We manage the entire process rather than simply providing advice. HealthBridge also develops alternative funding search initiatives, patient assistance programs and foundations.

How can HealthBridge support a product launch?

HealthBridge provides a wide spectrum of services to support product launch, ranging from product marketing and supply chain services, to patient assistant programs and product reimbursement.

Our full suite of product marketing and supply chain solutions enables HealthBridge to assist clients in creating and implementing a sampling strategy. In addition, we ensure that programs are managed efficiently and remain in PDMA compliance. With more than 300,000 square feet of warehousing and storage facilities, as well as the ability to process thousands of shipments each day, we can simplify supply chain processes and provide a distribution service to pharmaceutical sales representatives, practitioners, pharmacies and retailers.

From a product reimbursement standpoint, HealthBridge conducts in-depth interviews with targeted individuals to provide insight into their perceptions of our client's company, product and competitors. We assess the market and analyze competitors within specific therapeutic areas. Our team of experts analyzes pharmacoeconomic data and creates a value proposition to be communicated to payers. Likewise, HealthBridge recommends proposed payer positioning, determines coverage obstacles, identifies the required scope of reimbursement education and training, and designs a focused approach to product launch.

How does HealthBridge enhance relationships with practitioners?

Strong industry relationships with pharmaceutical manufacturers, payers and healthcare practitioners serve as the foundation for our success. One of our top priorities is to maintain a consistent and reliable communication channel with practitioners, providing essential therapies and clinical materials directly to their offices.

HealthBridge works with practices to keep staff up-to-date on payer policy changes and to educate them about reimbursement issues. This service is particularly valuable because payers change policies frequently, which may cause site-specific reimbursement issues that make it difficult for patients to access therapies. HealthBridge develops reimbursement guides, which include coding information and sample forms for client distribution to practitioner customers.

Likewise, we work closely with pharmaceutical manufacturers to streamline delivery of vital therapies to practitioners either directly to their offices or through sales representatives. This combination enhances the relationship between manufacturer and practitioner.

Why is educating payers important in helping patients get access to products?

Payers face many challenges in the approval of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. We educate payers about the clinical effectiveness and benefits of our clients' products in order to optimize the potential for claim payment. HealthBridge also educates payers about new indications or off-label use that is supported by clinical studies. This can result in changes to payer policy favorable to patients.

It is not unusual for recently approved indications of a therapy to nevertheless trigger a denial usually because the payer has not yet received the criteria to evaluate medical necessity. In these cases, HealthBridge identifies senior decision-makers at the payer organization, and educates them by providing medical literature and information on the new indication. The payer then establishes criteria for the new indication, paving the way for patients to benefit from the therapy.