Spotlight Interview featuring Ralph Moreno

Speaker: Ralph Moreno, 340B Solution Lead

Ralph Moreno: My name is Ralph Marino and I'm the 340 B solution lead at Rightway Healthcare. My current role is to work alongside the PB M team to implement a national network of 340 B programs that will allow us to adjudicate and leverage the drug purchasing program for our self funded employee members. I'm currently based out of Glendale Arizona and I chose right way because as a navigation and PB M company, they're truly best fit to implement a solution that could take advantage of 340 B and provide a new level of cost savings for self funded members.

Ralph Moreno: The 340 B program is a federal program, non taxpayer funded that allows clinics and hospitals based on certain criteria to buy drugs at a significantly reduced rate. Up to 90% of the acquisition cost. 340 B contributes to patient access through the formation of a national network of pharmacies and clinics that are able to pass through that savings to eligible members. This contributes to patient um improving patient access um by allowing right way to work more collaboratively with 340 B programs to provide better care to our highest costing highest priority members. Uh This is important to right way clients because through the cost savings initiatives, um employers are able to provide more comprehensive benefit design um at a lower cost to their members from a compliance perspective, right way bears no burden uh or 340 B compliance responsibility. However, um the programs in our network are required annually to attest to their eligibility and they have to ensure that they maintain adequate records of all members that are participating in their program.

Ralph Moreno: Rightway has developed a dual strategy for our 340 B solution that allows us to ensure that we have the most comprehensive and competitive product in the market. This means that we're partnering with strategic pharmacies such as Walmart and Kroger to allow us to develop a national network right out the gate. Secondarily, we're in discussions with several hospital and uh clinic owned pharmacies with the ability to provide mail order and delivery services so that we can even negotiate a steeper discount for our members. 340 B product is a passive implementation, which means that it can be embedded at any point in the year. Um Strategically um it piggybacks off of our current navigation and operational processes, which means that the communications, the, the frequency of touches will all be um in cadence with our current navigation product. Um in terms of any new and emerging trends, in terms of 340 B. Uh There are a few lawsuits that have been brought to um appeals Court in the more recent months that are challenging um the eligibility criteria for members. This could have a positive advantage to our product in terms of how we connect members to pay uh to health centers in a more efficient manner. Um In terms of software solutions out there to date, there are several that provide administration and compliance of which that we are piggybacking to ensure that we minimize our overhead um and maximize our efficiency.