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.

One of our key goals has been to develop a systematic approach to identify and review utilization patterns, trends and variation in care that impact quality outcomes and costs across VHAN.

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.

In May 2022, VHAN established a new acute care outreach team for Connected Care of Middle Tennessee Medicare ACO patients.

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.

Patients in need of care often face social and emotional barriers to health improvement. And sometimes these barriers don’t come up during doctor visits.

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!

To manage the dual challenges of prescribing antibiotics appropriately and preventing unnecessary usage, VHAN launched a new Antibiotic Stewardship Program.

The American Migraine Foundation found that fewer than 5% of patients who suffer from migraines have been seen by a health care provider, received an accurate diagnosis and obtained appropriate care.