BROADCASTS.com

b'Increases in consolidation and alignment between commercial health plans and pharmacy benefit managers have resulted in a series of business practices designed to steer patients to insurer-affiliated pharmacies and away from patients\\u2019 longstanding providers to the detriment of patient care. Under new policies being implemented by a number of large commercial insurance companies, they steer patients to third-party specialty pharmacies \\u2013 often owned by the same parent company as the insurer \\u2013 to acquire medication necessary for clinician-administered treatments, such as chemo infusions. Commonly referred to as \\u201cwhite bagging,\\u201d this practice raises significant patient safety issues, results in frequent delays in care and shifts tremendous administrative burden to hospitals to reconcile these policies on behalf of their patients. To examine this concerning trend, we hear from Mark Howell, AHA\\u2019s director of policy and patient safety, and Michelle Millerick AHA\\u2019s senior associate director of health insurance coverage policy.'