Program Description
Asthma remains a leading reason for emergency department visits and hospitalizations, and patients with severe asthma have greater economic burden and healthcare costs. Recognition of asthma phenotypes has helped to drive appropriate therapy but has not always benefited patients with severe disease. Managed care professionals should be familiar with guideline-recommended treatment and management strategies for patients with severe asthma to best determine appropriate interventions. The introduction of biologic therapies that target specific pathophysiology in asthma has provided a more personalized approach to treatment as well as reduced utilization of oral corticosteroids; however, biologic therapies often require prior authorization and involvement of specialty pharmacists for administration instructions and dispensing. Managed care pharmacists must be well-versed in the specific use and indications of available and emerging biologics for the management of patients with severe asthma. This supplement will focus on multidisciplinary approaches using evidence-based guidelines and incorporating pharmacist-led programs to improve outcomes for patients with severe asthma with biologic therapies.
Target audience: Managed care pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: September 9, 2022
Expiration date: December 9, 2023
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Explore the pathophysiology of asthma and the criteria to determine asthma severity status.
- Examine the recent guidelines for the assessment and treatment of severe asthma along with clinical data to support current biologic therapy.
- Identify clinical pathways, formularies, and disease management strategies to effectively utilize biologic therapy in severe asthma.
Russell Spjut, PharmD
Director, Formulary Management
Magellan Rx Management
Salt Lake City, Utah
Ashley Ann Walsh, PharmD
Pharmacist
Mohegan Pharmacy
Uncasville, Connecticut
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-22-415-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through December 9, 2023.
Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
Disclosures
The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Faculty
Russell Spjut, PharmD
Medical Writer
Ashley Ann Walsh, PharmD
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh; Michelle C. Carlson, PharmD; Kylie Ferrentino; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta
Anonymous peer reviewers were used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.
For questions about this internet CPE activity, please contact:
[email protected]
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