Hemo Alliance Newsletters

MCR Update, August 2024

Member and Community Relations Update

TAP into Your Future – MCR Team and TAP Work Together
by Member and Community Relations Team

Last week the Directors of the Member and Community Relations team of the Hemophilia Alliance traveled to Westbury, New York, where they met for one and a half days at The Alliance Pharmacy (TAP).

The purpose of this meeting was for The Hemophilia Alliance and TAP staff to review and better understand the full scope of services and capabilities each organization offers our HTC members, to discuss payer trends, and strategize how the two can proactively collaborate for the benefit of member HTCs and the patients they serve.

The meeting began with a tour of TAP and a review of TAP operations, including wholesale distribution, contract pharmacy arrangements and single case agreement activity. TAP highlighted the current products they distribute, which HTCs leverage with Hemophilia Alliance manufacturer contracts through TAP wholesale distribution, the current number of HTCs that utilize TAP as a contract pharmacy, and the number of single case agreements currently in place with TAP as the dispensing pharmacy. 

After the TAP review, the Hemophilia Alliance Team gave a high-level overview of the roles and responsibilities of the Directors of Member and Community Relations (MCRs).  

Together, Hemophilia Alliance and The Alliance Pharmacy are focused on a strategy to strengthen our partnership and collaborative efforts on behalf of our HTC members. Hemophilia Alliance and The Alliance Pharmacy have been partners since 2010 with a focus on how to grow the business of member HTCs’ pharmacy programs.

Going forward, the MCR Directors and the TAP team plan to meet virtually each quarter to discuss areas where we can strengthen services offered to our HTC members and continue to strategize on current trends as reported by payers and brokers.

If you are not utilizing the services and capabilities of TAP, reach out to your MCR team member to learn how TAP can make your HTC stronger.


Hemophilia Alliance Genetic Testing Program Webinar Update
by Angie Blue, Director of Member and Community Relations

On August 21, the Hemophilia Alliance had a webinar going over the new Genetic Testing Program that launched on August 1, 2024. The program was created to provide access to Hemophilia A, Hemophilia B, and von Willebrand’s Disease Genetic Testing for patients of Hemophilia Alliance Member Treatment Centers. This program is for patients who do not have insurance coverage, or their out-of-pocket costs associated with testing is prohibitive. Testing will be performed by Bloodworks in Washington state or Versiti in Wisconsin.

Who will be eligible for free testing?

  • Patients receiving care at a Hemophilia Alliance Member HTC who are not eligible for other available genetic testing free programs or studies AND meet one or more of the following criteria:
    • Patient does not have insurance coverage.
    • Patient does not have coverage for genetic testing under their insurance plan, i.e. not a covered benefit.
    • Patients who cannot afford the out-of-pocket expenses associated with the testing and are at, or below, 400% of the Federal Poverty Level.

Additional information for Hemophilia Alliance Members on the program including the recorded webinar and how to get started can be found here.

Also In This Issue…
Jeff Weighs In
The Alliance Pharmacy Update
  • The TAP Safety Net
Advocacy and Legal Update
  • The Food and Drug Administration Finalizes Regulation of Laboratory Developed Tests
  • Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule – Clotting Factor/Gene Therapy Proposal
Administration and Operations Update
  • Join Our Upcoming Meetings

Team Alliance Contact Information

We work for you! Please don’t hesitate to contact any of us with any questions or concerns:

Name Email Phone
Jeff Blake jeff@hemoalliance.org 317-657-5913
Jennifer Borrillo, MSW, LCSW, MBA borrillo@hemoalliance.org 504-376-5282
Heidi Lane, PT, DPT, PCS heidi@hemoalliance.org 435-659-1230
Angela Blue, MBA angela@hemoalliance.org 651-308-3902
Karen Bowe-Hause karen@hemoalliance.org 717-571-0266
Jazzmine Brown, MBA, MSW, LCSW jazzmine@hemoalliance.org 770-570-2649
Ashley Castello, MEd ashley@hemoalliance.org 225-266-5062
Zack Duffy zack@hemoalliance.org 503-804-2581
Michael B. Glomb MGlomb@ftlf.com 202-466-8960
Johanna Gray, MPA jgray@artemispolicygroup.com 703-304-8111
Kiet Huynh kiet@hemoalliance.org 917-362-1382
Elizabeth Karan elizabeth@karanlegalgroup.com 612-202-3240
Kollet Koulianos, MBA kollet@hemoalliance.org 309-397-8431
Roland P. Lamy, Jr. roland@hemoalliance.org 603-491-0853
Julie Lichterman julie@hemoalliance.org 941-779-5971
Dr. George L. Oestreich, Pharm.D., MPA george@gloetal.com 573-230-7075
Theresa Parker theresa@hemoalliance.org 727-688-2568
Mark Plencner mark@hemoalliance.org 701-318-2910
Ellen Riker eriker@artemispolicygroup.com 202-257-6670