| Start Time | Name | Description | Speakers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Employer Arrival and Breakfast | ||
| 8:30 AM | Roundtable (Employers Only) | Peer-led discussion: GLP-1 demand, PBM frustration, consultant dynamics, fiduciary exposure. | Steven First, Pfizer |
| 9:00 AM | General Arrival and Breakfast | ||
| 9:45 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | What’s changing, what’s at stake, and what this event is here to solve. | |
| 9:50 AM | GLP-1s, Gene Therapies & the New Math of Affordability | This session unpacks the financial and clinical pressures of covering today’s high-cost therapies, from GLP-1s to gene therapies. Learn how employers are managing demand, balancing access with cost, and preparing for the next wave of specialty drug approvals. | Ashley Hume, Emerging Therapy Solutions Kirby Eng, RPh, OutcomeRx Jonathan Koval, PharmD, MBA, Transcarent Eileen Pincay, RPh, Segal New York |
| 10:35 AM | Formularies and Failures: What Are We Really Paying For? | Explore how formularies are built, how PBM and GPO incentives shape access and cost, and where exclusions and rebate-driven decisions can leave employers exposed. Walk away with key questions to evaluate whether your pharmacy benefit design truly delivers value. | Andrew Gregg, Prudential Jim Arnold, finHealth Ryan Czado, PharmD, MBA, RazorMetrics Catalina Gorla, TruDataRx Joana Nassa, Aon |
| 11:20 AM | Networking Break + Transition to Breakouts | ||
| 11:35 AM | Breakout A1: The Rebate Mirage: Are You Saving Money or Losing Control? | This tactical session unpacks how rebate guarantees, GPO deals, and pass-through arrangements can obscure the true cost of your pharmacy spend. We’ll break down how rebate mechanics shape formulary design, what employers are earning (or losing) on rebates, and what audit, RFP, or renegotiation strategies you can use to regain transparency. | Sara King, PharmD, Ethica Pharmacy Advisors |
| 11:35 AM | Breakout B1: GLP-1s + Behavior Change: Making Weight Loss Drugs Work | GLP-1s are dominating headlines—and your pharmacy budget. But how do you cover these high-cost drugs responsibly? This session delivers practical tools for integrating GLP-1 coverage with behavioral and lifestyle supports, from BMI-based guardrails to coaching models and clinical adherence programs. Learn how to strike the right balance between access, outcomes, and cost. | Charles E. Smith, MD, Aon Jason Parrott, Vida Health |
| 11:35 AM | Breakout C1: Seeing the Full Picture: PBMs, Consultants, and What to Ask | Pharmacy benefit decisions involve a complex network of players—including PBMs, consultants, and coalitions. This session helps employers identify where incentives may be misaligned, what questions to ask, and how to ensure transparency and accountability—without pointing fingers. You'll leave with practical tools to manage fiduciary responsibilities and strengthen your pharmacy strategy. | Christine Burke Worthen, Epstein, Becker, Green P.C. William Bifulco, District Council 37 Josh Van Ginkel, Pharmaceutical Strategies Group |
| 12:20 PM | Lunch Transition | ||
| 12:30 PM | Lunch Speaker: Inside the Black Box: Aligning Incentives Across the Pharmacy Ecosystem | Step back for a big-picture discussion on how incentive structures across PBMs, brokers, consultants, and coalitions shape the entire employer marketplace. We’ll explore why misalignments persist, how consolidated market power limits employer options, and where collective leverage and innovation can shift the future. | Josh Golden, Capital Rx |
| 1:30 PM | Transition to Breakouts Round 2 | ||
| 1:45 PM | Breakout A2: The Rebate Mirage: Are You Saving Money or Losing Control? | This tactical session unpacks how rebate guarantees, GPO deals, and pass-through arrangements can obscure the true cost of your pharmacy spend. We’ll break down how rebate mechanics shape formulary design, what employers are earning (or losing) on rebates, and what audit, RFP, or renegotiation strategies you can use to regain transparency. | Sara King, PharmD, Ethica Pharmacy Advisors |
| 1:45 PM | Breakout B2: GLP-1s + Behavior Change: Making Weight Loss Drugs Work | GLP-1s are dominating headlines—and your pharmacy budget. But how do you cover these high-cost drugs responsibly? This session delivers practical tools for integrating GLP-1 coverage with behavioral and lifestyle supports, from BMI-based guardrails to coaching models and clinical adherence programs. Learn how to strike the right balance between access, outcomes, and cost. | Charles E. Smith, MD, Aon Jason Parrott, Vida Health |
| 1:45 PM | Breakout C2: Seeing the Full Picture: PBMs, Consultants, and What to Ask | Pharmacy benefit decisions involve a complex network of players—including PBMs, consultants, and coalitions. This session helps employers identify where incentives may be misaligned, what questions to ask, and how to ensure transparency and accountability—without pointing fingers. You'll leave with practical tools to manage fiduciary responsibilities and strengthen your pharmacy strategy. | Christine Burke Worthen, Epstein, Becker, Green P.C. William Bifulco, District Council 37 Josh Van Ginkel, Pharmaceutical Strategies Group |
| 2:30 PM | Networking Break | ||
| 2:45 PM | From Data to Decisions: Bold Employer Moves for High-Cost Claims Management | Pharmacy costs are climbing fast, from GLP 1s to gene therapies, leaving employers searching for answers. Christine Hale, MD draws on her work guiding coalitions and employers through high-cost claims strategies to deliver a clear, actionable close to the day. She’ll reveal bold moves every employer should make now to take back control of drug spending. Attendees will walk away with a focused game plan they can put into action immediately. | Christine Hale, MDA, MPA |
| 3:30 PM | Closing Remarks |