• What differentiates HealthBridge from its competitors?
• How does reimbursement help patients get access to prescribed therapies?
• How can HealthBridge support a new 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?

Through collaboration with our sister company, CuraScript, Inc., HealthBridge is able to offer a full spectrum of services. From comprehensive reimbursement and REMS through patient assistance and supply chain programs, we are able to design customized integrated business solutions to help achieve all of our clients' patient and practitioner access goals.

• Patient-Centric - HealthBridge focuses on individualized service to meet the unique needs of each patient; we also serve as an extension of care for practitioners - helping to ensure the best possible care.
• Clinical Expertise - HealthBridge provides clinical expertise to support the complex needs of patients and caregivers; we get patients on therapy quickly and we proactively manage their compliance and adherence to therapy.
• Operational Excellence - HealthBridge leverages our proven customer service and distribution capabilities to reduce the burden of access for our clients and their patients.
• Innovative Technology - HealthBridge continually invests in technologies that enhance access, improve overall effectiveness, and provide comprehensive analytics and actionable data.
• Comprehensive Access - HealthBridge provides access to nearly one-in-three Americans; we have a history of coverage policy development for nearly 2,000 payers nationwide.

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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.

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How can HealthBridge support a new product launch?

HealthBridge provides a wide spectrum of services to support a new product launch ranging from pre-launch reimbursement and REMS strategy development to post-launch product marketing, supply chain services and patient access program management.

From a product reimbursement strategy 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.

For REMS planning, HealthBridge collaborates with the manufacturer, the FDA, and our regulatory experts to design a program that meets requirements while streamlining the patient access process. As a manager of one of the oldest REMS programs, HealthBridge offers experience in developing, implementing and managing REMS programs that minimize potential risks, help ensure compliance, and support the ongoing commercialization of our clients' products. As an integrated solutions provider, we coordinate between the Specialty Pharmacy, Specialty Distribution, and the reimbursement HUB as needed to deliver a seamless REMS process for our clients and their patients.

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.

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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.

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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.

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