Participating Faculty

Issues in Improving the Treatment of Anemia: Negotiating the Shifting Regulatory and Clinical Landscapes

This supplement to The American Journal of Managed Care addresses the growing need for evidence-based guidance on the identification and management of anemia in multiple clinical settings, as well as for up-to-date information on the clinical benefits of and restrictions on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents to treat anemia.

Faculty

Hugh Fatodu, RPh, MBA

Director of Pharmacy

Johns Hopkins Healthcare

Glen Burnie, Maryland

Steven Fishbane, MD

Chief Medical Officer and Chief, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension

Winthrop University Hospital

Mineola, New York

Robert E. Smith Jr, MD

South Carolina Oncology Associates

Columbia, South Carolina

Faculty Disclosures

These faculty have disclosed the following relevant commercial financial relationships or affiliations in the past 12 months.

Steven Fishbane, MD

Consultant/advisory board/honoraria:

Ortho

Robert E. Smith Jr, MD

Consultant/advisory board:

Amgen, P4 Healthcare

Grants/honoraria/lecturer:

Amgen

Hugh Fatodu, RPh, MBA,

has nothing to disclose.

The planning staff from the University of Cincinnati, The American Journal of Managed Care, and the Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education have no relevant financial relationships to disclose.

The contents of this supplement may include information regarding the use of products that may be inconsistent with or outside the approved labeling for these products in the United States. Physicians should note that the use of these products outside current approved labeling is considered experimental and are advised to consult prescribing information for these products.

Continuing Education

Issues in Improving the Treatment of Anemia: Negotiating the Shifting Regulatory and Clinical Landscapes

Release date: March 15, 2010

Expiration date: March 31, 2011

Estimated time to complete activity: 2.5 hours

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Centocor Ortho Biotech Services, LLC.

Intended Audience

The audience for this supplement consists of medical directors, pharmacy directors, pharmacy and therapeutic committee members, and healthcare providers who care for patients with anemia in various clinical settings.

Statement of Educational Need/Program Overview

This educational activity will address the growing need for evidence-based guidance on the identification and management of anemia in multiple clinical settings, as well as for up-to-date information on the clinical benefits of and restrictions on the use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) to treat anemia.

Updated practice guidelines, emerging data, US Food and Drug Administration-mandated labeling changes, and revisions in Medicare coverage have created clinical and economic challenges for providers and payers tasked with caring for this patient population. It is the goal of this program to provide evidence-based strategies on the optimal, cost-effective management of patients with anemia and to update clinicians and payers on federal policies regarding patient access to ESAs.

Educational Objectives

After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Perform a systematic review of the clinical, humanistic, and economic impacts of anemia to better detect anemia in vulnerable patient populations.
• Evaluate current treatment options for anemia and their relative benefits and risks in improving patient outcomes.
• Apply new and emerging data in identifying optimal, cost-effective treatment for patients with anemia.
• Employ safer use of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for treating anemia and/or reducing transfusions in approved patient populations to include update on labels, National Coverage Determinations, and practice guidelines on ESAs, and identify discrepancies among them.
• Identify and understand the barriers to ESA and Medicare Part D to ensure access for appropriate patients.
• Develop and implement institutional policies to reduce the occurrence, clinical impact, and associated costs of ESA-related adverse events among plan members.
• Employ the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies for ESAs and optimize its use in the managed care setting.

Disclosure Policy

According to the disclosure policies of the University of Cincinnati and Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education, faculty, editors, managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control content are required to disclose any relevant financial relationships with relevant commercial companies related to this activity. All relevant conflicts of interest that are identified are reviewed for potential conflicts of interest. If a conflict is identified, it is the responsibility of the University of Cincinnati and Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education to initiate a mechanism to resolve the conflict(s). The existence of these interests or relationships is not viewed as implying bias or decreasing the value of the presentation. All educational materials are reviewed for fair balance, scientific objectivity of studies reported, and levels of evidence.

Physician Continuing Medical Education

Accreditation Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the University of Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation

The University of Cincinnati designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Pharmacist Continuing Education

Accreditation Statement

Pharmacy Times Office of Continuing Professional Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This program is approved for 2.5 contact hours (0.25 CEUs) under the ACPE universal program number of 0290-9999-10-008-H01-P. This program is available for CE credit through March 31, 2011.

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