Some of Morrow's Gems, Today

Thomas Morrow, MD, author of “Tomorrow’s Medicine,” the longest-running health care technology column in the United States, has been the founding medical director of 5 HMOs, a clinical lead for a national disease management company, and a surveyor for the National Committee for Quality Assurance. He is also director of Value Based Health at Genentech, Inc, and wrote an important article entitled “Intelligent Virtual Agents in Health Care” in the March/April 2013 issue of Specialty Pharmacy Times.

Dr. Morrow spoke on a panel last month with other representatives from Pharma at the Therigy Specialty Pharmacy Congress in Orlando, Florida. Here are some of the most notable comments he contributed to the discussion surrounding pharmaceutical manufacturers’ outlook on specialty pharmacy:

On driving health behavior changes:

“Behavior is the reason for most of our health ills. The provider has the distinct advantage in specialty [pharmacy] delivery, because he or she is the provider of the product and the care.”

When asked what would be considered a standardized specialty service:

“It may not exist. I’m not convinced they [specialty services] can be standardized.”

On using artificial intelligence in health care:

“We can replicate the best minds using technology. 25% of all physicians are baby boomers and will retire soon.”

On how health care reform will affect the specialty pharmacy space:

“Exchanges represent the disintegration of managed care at the local level.”

On the expansion of hospitals:

“If you want to find a hospital, follow the crane—a hospital will be built under it, and it will all be funded by 340B.”

On employer groups:

“If you focus on the patient, you ultimately do what’s best for the payer and employer.”