Talking Immunology Biosimilars and Managed Care with Dr. Colby Evans

Biosimilars have taken an increasingly prominent role in healthcare in recent years, representing a significant point of savings for patients and managed care organizations (MCOs). However, there are still some significant challenges to increase their utilization. In a new AJMC interview, Dr. Colby Evans of Evans Dermatology Partners discusses these hurdles. The first is that patients and providers are often unwilling to make the change from more expensive reference drugs.

According to , “Although some education of health care providers has been done, more is needed to help front-line prescribers understand the safety and efficacy of biosimilars. Education, while needed, will not alone move the needle on biologic uptake. Providers need incentives to utilize biologics, if the efficacy and cost to the patient are the same either way, there is no motivation to consider switching. Decreasing red tape (like prior authorizations or step therapy) for biosimilars and making sure that the patient out-of-pocket cost is low are excellent first steps.”

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(Source: AJMC, May 9^th, 2023)