Prescription for Better Access

Podcast: Prescription for Better Access
Episode: Podcast Preview - Getting to Know Your Co-hosts

Welcome to Prescription for Better Access, a new interview-focused podcast brought to you by two healthcare industry veterans aimed to help shape the future of patient access and affordability. In this preview episode, listeners will have the opportunity to get to know co-hosts Mark Hansan and Dr. Scott Howell and hear why they have come together to launch this interview-focused podcast to help improve patient access to medicines.

Dr. Scott Howell began his career as a physician in clinical medicine for about a decade, where he experienced the challenges that patients, doctors and practices have in navigating healthcare. Scott was recruited to SmithKlineBeecham (eventually GSK) as a managed care leader.  He had roles with Highmark and led Genentech’s market access and patient services functions.  Scott also worked at Cardinal Health and Jazz Pharmaceuticals before joining Novartis to lead market access and eventually becoming Chief Strategy Officer. Along the way, he aided in a number of groundbreaking academic publications about the intersection of drug pricing and access. 

Mark Hansan is considered a pioneer in this industry of patient services. He joined the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation just out of college and began working with the President and CEO Bob Dresing.  They started the CF Services pharmacy, became advocates for patients, helping them get coverage and access to manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs. Mark co-founded TheraCom, one of the early hub providers for manufacturers and supported the launch of several early biotech products.  In 2011, Mark co-founded CareMetx, his current tech-focused hub company where he serves as Executive Chairman.  

Though there are many great healthcare podcasts currently out there, Scott and Mark found that there are none which focus in on the intersection of manufacturers, payers, providers and patients themselves. In today’s ironic landscape where science has never been better and access has never been worse, their mission with this podcast is to get to work changing that. Before wrapping up, they look forward to the many exciting guests they will speak to and sign off with one final question for listeners to consider: What is your prescription for better access?  

Timestamps: 

1:14 - Introduction to this new podcast co-hosted by Dr. Scott Howell and Mark Hansan. 
1:45 - Dr. Scott Howell introduces himself and gives an overview of his background. 
6:38 - Mark Hansan introduces himself and shares about his own background. 
10:55 - Discussing the need to change the current unsustainable healthcare system. 
12:06 - Looking forward to the future guests of the podcast. 
13:01 - Overview of the topics future episodes will cover. 
15:36 - What is your prescription for better access? 

Links: 

Learn more about your hosts Dr. Scott Howell and Mark Hansan. 

Comments or suggestions for Mark or Scott: comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com