Two weeks ago, I was on a panel at SXSW. I was the entrepreneur expert, and possibly the comic relief. The deal for our panel was that Judy Wang and Troy Bannister would answer questions as industry experts and I would provide color commentary of what it’s like to be on the front lines. We all knew what we’d be asked ahead of time, Troy even brought slides to answer his questions. Judy and Troy were excellent industry experts.
There is a simple truth about drug formularies. Yes, they are crafted using a variety of strategies that boil down to cost containment—for the insurance company and the plan sponsor. The ultimate goal of a formulary, however, is to provide patient access to the affordable, safe, and medically appropriate treatment. Since diseased states, such as diabetes, can have multiple therapeutic options (generic and brand), formulary designers juggle many variables to achieve the delicate equilibrium between clinically appropriate and cost-effective therapies. Could, then, the way physicians get their drug and formulary information affect thinking about the big picture?
My friend Lolly could see and connect with almost anyone. It was a super power. She always made you feel valued, because she really valued you. She saw me, she saw pretty much everyone. She had a bottomless well of love and presence. I’ve never seen anything like it. She and I never spent one on one time together, never went for coffee, but she really saw me.
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What is your superpower? 