Research Agenda
Research Agenda
AMCP and AMCP Foundation have set forth a four-part research agenda that identifies and prioritizes critical evidentiary gaps. The agenda was published in the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy in the proceedings manuscript Top Evidentiary Gaps in Managed Care Pharmacy: A Research Agenda, 2020 Apr;26(4):375-381.
The four research areas are:
- Real-world evidence to inform managed care pharmacy decision-making;
- Value-based models in managed care pharmacy to address total cost of care;
- Impact of benefit design or utilization management strategies on patient outcomes; and
- Impact of direct patient care services provided by managed care pharmacy on patient outcomes.
The purpose of this agenda is to inspire the AMCP membership, researchers and funding agencies to close these gaps in knowledge and understanding to ultimately improve health care for all.
To generate the research agenda, two surveys were conducted sequentially with key opinion leaders, AMCP members and other stakeholders, to understand the evidentiary needs surrounding managed care pharmacy. The agenda is intended to be broad and will continually evolve as the health care system changes, managed care pharmacy practitioners transform their work, and new technologies and data capabilities become available.
Prioritizing Research
Given the broad nature of the agenda, and to provide guidance to interested stakeholders, we recommend prioritizing research on the following types of drugs or clinical care services:
- Those approved under the FDA’s Fast Track, Breakthrough Therapy, or Accelerated Approval categories that have very limited clinical or economic evidence at the time of launch;
- Whose price and/or expected use would have a significant impact on the managed care pharmacy budget;
- Where potential opportunities for outcomes-based contracting exist;
- Impacted by legislative activities and policies, e.g. preventive care;
- Indicated in disease states where there are limited or outdated clinical guidelines; and
- Medication therapy management and the impact on clinical outcomes across various patient demographics.
Learn More
The agenda was proposed by the AMCP/Foundation Joint Research Committee (JRC) and approved by the AMCP Board of Directors and AMCP Foundation Board of Trustees. The JRC was established in 2016 to promote and encourage the creation and dissemination of relevant and credible research and initiatives, in order to advance patient care services in managed care pharmacy.
