In recent years the VHAN Population Health Pharmacy Team has made it a priority to help patients, particularly ones with chronic illnesses, improve compliance to their prescriptions. This focus on medication adherence not only helps patients better manage their chronic diseases, but it also helps maintain consistent medical care during transitions and even reduce drug costs. It’s all part of the team’s efforts to produce better patient outcomes.

In recent months, demand for GLP1 (glucagon like peptide 1) receptor agonists has skyrocketed across the country, leaving providers inundated with prescription requests and patients frustrated with shortages. GLP1 agonists have an important place in obesity therapy. However, there are many unanswered questions about long-term side effects, cost-effectiveness and the duration of therapy. Unfortunately, current manufacturing cannot adequately meet the demand for both diabetes and obesity treatment. The VHAN Pharmacy Team has the following recommendations for navigating ongoing shortages.

Last month the Biden-Harris administration announced that the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) will end on May 11. This will have large impacts on Medicare ACO programs as well as TennCare recipients. Read the full article for a few items that members should be aware of.

This year VHAN will distribute $17.7 million in shared savings and performance bonuses from Health Plans, Aetna, Aetna MA, United Healthcare and Humana contracts, thanks to our members’ outstanding performance in 2021.

VHAN’s Pamela Bruce, Director, Quality and Clinical Transformation, has joined the NAACOS Quality Committee. This committee evaluates quality initiatives and requirements related to ACOs, while focusing on the role of quality performance in population-based payment models. The NAACOS Quality Committee also works to develop and guide the NAACOS quality strategy as it relates to Medicare ACO models including the Shared Savings Programs and other payers with ACO contracts. Congratulations, Pam!

This flu season has been one of the worst in recent years, with approximately 8.7 million flu illnesses, 78,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 flu-related deaths reported across the United States. Flu vaccines remain the best defense against this year’s flu, along antiviral medications like Tamiflu, handwashing and plenty of rest. Your patients likely have plenty of questions about treating flu symptoms or avoiding flu altogether. In this article, we address some commonly asked questions with input from clinical experts.

VHAN is excited to partner with Aetna to create a member program for small to mid-size benefit plans that helps your employees stay healthy while your practice saves on health care costs. The Aetna Whole Health Employee program offers discounts, comprehensive benefit design, and enhanced features such as wellness, an Employee Assistance Program and $0 copay visits to multiple convenient care options. Hurry and sign up by Jan. 1—and find more information on the VHAN Hub.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule on Nov. 1 that updates the physician fee schedule for calendar year 2023. The rule also includes numerous changes that directly impact the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Quality Payment Program (QPP).

VHAN is pleased to announce that the network achieved 100% performance on all Aetna Commercial quality measures in 2021. VHAN members also scored higher than Aetna’s Q4 national average on several measures, including Breast and Colorectal Cancer Screening and Comprehensive Diabetes Care.