Former CMS Administrator: "'Blunt Instrument' Policies an Increasingly Bad Fit in Era of Personalized Health... (s andcomplications; improved identificat...)

Former CMS Administrator: "'Blunt Instrument' Policies an Increasingly Bad Fit in Era of Personalized Health Care"

Date:5/16/2008

s and complications; improved identification of patients at risk for chronic diseases; an increased focus on wellness; and better support for navigation of the health care system as strategies espoused by both parties that have the potential to improve quality of care.

"Both party's candidates are placing a greater emphasis than ever before on strategies like chronic disease prevention and healthcare information technology," said McClellan.

McClellan commented on additional issues facing the current and future health care landscape:

-- Recent rapid advancements in gene-based care such as proteomics and

genomics, RNA interference, regenerative medicine and epigenetics are

ushering in the "Biomedical Century" and introducing a sea change in

personalized medicine that makes "all the spending worth it."

-- A key driver of cost is not rising prices or an aging population; in

fact, the key driver is simply more people getting more treatments

combined with longer life expectancy. However, there is a major

problem with the underuse of services for chronic disease management,

as patients with chronic diseases get appropriate treatment only about

55 percent of the time.

-- While the introduction of biosimilars holds tremendous promise for

financial relief, it is unlikely that Congress will act on legislation

this year to advance the policies around the emerging therapeutic

category. McClellan also noted that the Food and Drug Administration

makes a clear distinction between generic similars and interchangeables

in oral medications, a distinction that will prove to be inapplicable

to biologics and could present unique challenges in crafting

appropriate legislation.

About Medco

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Former CMS Administrator: "'Blunt Instrument' Policies an Increasingly Bad Fit in Era of Personalized Health...(s andcomplications; improved identificat...)