Policies to Prevent Pharmaceutical Waste: Initial Prescription Limitations and Pro-rating Co-pays

Thursday, May 17, 2012
2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET

Register here: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/484377126

Overview:

When patients receive a new prescription they usually fill a full 30-, 60- or 90-day prescription before they know whether the medicine will work for them. Currently most co-pay structures require patients to pay a flat fee, or a percentage, of the total prescription cost each time they fill or renew a prescription. When a patient stops taking medication for any reason, the remainder goes to waste and cannot be redistributed. Limiting the initial prescription size or pro-rating the patient's co-pay for medications can therefore reduce waste. In Maine, an initial prescription limitation policy is already being implemented. This policy, put in place in 2009, limits initial prescriptions to 15-day supplies for certain drugs. As part of their Drug Utilization Management and Fraud, Abuse, and Waste Control Program, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently issued a new rule which creates a financial incentive for Medicare Part D beneficiaries to ask their prescribers for less than a month's supply when appropriate. Under the new policy patients would have the option to pay a lower, pro-rated cost when the prescription is dispensed, which reduces costs and waste.

Moderator:

Sierra Fletcher, Director of Policy and Programs, Product Stewardship Institute

Speakers:

• Jennifer Palow, Acting MIHMS Project Manager, Director of Operations, Office of MaineCare Services
• Tracey McCutcheon, Deputy Director, Medicare Drug Benefit & C&D Data Group, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Lisa Vanston Thorpe, Esq., U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medicare Drug Benefit and Part C & D Data Group Division of Drug Plan Policy and Quality

Solid Waste Management and Recycling Educational Series

How to Negotiate Your Contract with Waste Haulers

Thursday, May 24, 2012
1:00 - 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Register here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/506158114

DESCRIPTION:
The key to an effective working relationship between a contract administrator and a collection contractor is a clearly written and executed contract. Learn tips from industry experts on how to write and negotiate an effective contract with refuse and recycling haulers, while keeping costs under control and increasing recycling. This webinar will also give you each of the speaker's first hand practical experiences on how to more effectively negotiate waste, recycling and composting contracts with haulers. Both speakers have reduced costs and significantly improved on diversion rates. It will also expand on the issues discussed in EPA's March 12, 2012 webinar on Zero Waste Contracting by discussing more about reducing costs while also increasing waste diversion.

AUDIENCE: The webinar is intended for anyone who contracts out their solid waste services, including commercial entities, institutions, and governments.

BIOS:

Robin Ennis, Chief of Collections, Division of Solid Waste Services in Montgomery County. With over 210,000 single family homes, it is the largest County in the State of Maryland. Robin is a senior member of the faculty for the Solid Waste Association of North America, teaching certification courses in Collections, Recycling, MSW Management, and Landfill Operations. She is also the Immediate Past President of the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of SWANA. Over the past four years Robin has effectively negotiated and executed thirteen contracts with private sector haulers to collect refuse and recyclables. To further the County's commitment to sustainability, the new contracts required the deployment of 125 new trucks powered with compressed natural gas. This undertaking not only improved the County's air quality as expected, but resulted in an annual savings of $1 million.

Amy Krause, Support Manager and Recycling Specialist for S. Freedman & Sons., a restaurant and janitorial supply distributor located in Landover, MD. She has assisted 27 business customers with various levels of waste reduction and recycling program implementations, including reviewing and negotiating contracts with local haulers. Her clients include types of businesses, from small family owned restaurants to large K through 7th grade private schools. She began her passion for waste reduction 5 years ago when she worked very closely with the Catholic Charities Organization. During that time she developed relationships with many local haulers and continues to participate in any trainings and organized discussions to enhance her knowledge. She has saved clients over $170,000 in waste expense costs, while improving recycling rates and reducing waste going to the landfill.