The Dominance of Oncology in Pharma: What Account Managers Need to Know

Despite significant disruptions in healthcare as a whole, oncology remains the dominant field in pharma, accounting for approximately $200 billion in healthcare spending at present. New reports suggest that this amount may rise to $273 billion by 2025. 

As oncology’s dominance continues in the pharmacological market, it will have several important implications for healthcare account management in the coming years. Account managers may be able to capitalize on this concentration of spending by acquiring in-depth knowledge of the oncology market and the factors which drive it. 

Oncology in Pharma: Projections for 2025 

According to a recent report from the IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, here are some projections for the near future related to oncologic drugs and spending:  

• By 2025, oncology’s share of pharma spending is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate between 9 and 12%.  

• Over 100 new oncology drugs are projected to make it to market in this time frame. 

• Many of these new drugs are expected to be biomarker-driven therapies. These types of drugs produce excellent results, but are only useful for select groups of patients. 

Implications for Account Management 

With such rapid development occurring in the world of oncology treatments, pharma account managers who do not make a concerted effort to catch up with the trends, risk being left behind. AMs must be able to apply their knowledge of market trends & market dynamics in order to proactively bring solutions to their customers and facilitate internal decision-making. This level of service cannot be delivered without intimate knowledge of both the product market and its drivers.  

In-depth knowledge of current oncology research and drug development can help account managers identify the types of therapies that their clients are most likely to be interested in and benefit from. Customer-focused sales models like this not only provide ample opportunities for upselling and revenue growth, but also foster better relationships between account managers and the organizations they serve. 

Serving Oncology Customers Better with The Brooks Group 

Healthcare consulting companies like The Brooks Group can help account managers bridge the gaps in their knowledge of oncology pharmaceuticals. Our incisive healthcare market research reveals the pain points of key decision-makers in hospital systems, physician groups, and healthcare provider networks. Armed with this information, pharmaceutical AMs can upgrade the services they offer to customers with oncology-related needs. In doing so, they bring innovative solutions to patients in need while also capturing revenue for the drug manufacturers they represent.  

The Brooks Group recognizes the unique importance of incorporating oncology pharma knowledge in account management training workshops, for effective account management in 2021 and beyond. Our upcoming workshop covers topics such as oncology market trends and drivers, how customers are responding to these market drivers, and how to engage those customers with a value proposition that meets their needs. Enroll today and take the first steps toward becoming a better account manager for customers in this critical high-value sector. 

Review our calendar of events for other healthcare executive training programs here.

This blog was originally posted on https://thebrooksgrouponline.com/2021/09/the-dominance-of-oncology-in-pharma-what-account-managers-need-to-know/

MANAGED CARE 101: A MUST FOR SALES AND ACCOUNT MANAGERS IN PHARMA

Managed care is a process that gives patients an option to receive care at a reduced cost through their healthcare plans that have specialized contracts with healthcare providers. Managed care’s primary focus is on wellness and prevention, though it also supports better utilization of healthcare services, better healthcare quality, and lower costs.

In other words, managed care can benefit both patients and providers through a coordinated approach; patients get access to lower-cost benefits while providers gain access to an efficient process for acquiring new patients and managing receivables.

Managed care plans come in a variety of options, including Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs), Point Of Service (POS) Plans, And Medicaid Managed Care. Population survey data shows that over 70 million Americans have been enrolled in HMOs, and nearly 90 million have been involved with PPOs. It is fair to say that managed markets are a focal point of modern healthcare – and pharmaceutical personnel need to understand how the interplay of various participants in managed care affect their sales and operations.

The Role of Pharmaceutical Sales and Account Managers in Managed Care

Pharmaceutical sales reps bear a heavy burden. As product specialists and provider liaisons, sales reps have more to do than simply memorize spec sheets. Succeeding in managed care requires an understanding of the general market environment, the economics of managed markets, and how to match their products and solutions to the potential buyers based on the critical business issues faced by the key decision makers.

Sales reps need a deeper understanding of influencing factors such as regulations in product pricing, prescribing restrictions, authorizations, copay management, and more. Account Managers on the other hand need to be able to have tremendous insights into the concerns and challenges of the Key Decision Makers, and based on that build and deliver a unique value proposition that speaks undeniable value and long-term engagement.

This is why, in addition to the standard account management training, most pharmaceutical companies require their sales and account reps to go through managed care training seminars to gain a deep understanding of the system.

Managed Care Training Offers a Competitive Edge

In order to be able to deliver the above-mentioned value, pharma sales and account managers must be well versed in the intricacies of the managed market.

This involves-

• Understanding managed healthcare & the different components
• Identifying the providers & how they impact managed healthcare
• Defining quality & identifying quality initiatives in addition to the leading quality organizations
• Understanding the U.S. healthcare market framework

Pharma managers and sales reps are most effective when they are coached by those familiar with the specialized needs of managed markets. As a leading healthcare consulting firm, The Brooks Group has accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience in this field.

The Brooks Group offers a dedicated course called “Managed Care 101” – a training course specifically designed for account managers, field sales reps, and senior level sales professionals looking for insight into the various strategies and techniques used to support managed care markets. Registration is available through open-enrollment sessions at The Brooks Group or by a custom course with your team/organization.

If you’re interested in learning more about our managed care training curriculum or about our healthcare executive training programs, contact us today for more information.

This blog was originally posted on https://thebrooksgrouponline.com/2020/11/managed-care-101-a-must-for-sales-and-account-managers-in-pharma/