ADHD Practice Connections

The fast-paced changes in the US health-care system are escalating the pressures faced by doctor’s office managers, nurse practitioners, office coordinators, and others responsible for coordinating patient reimbursements.

While diagnoses and treatment plans are as important as they ever were, patients are increasingly relying on these individuals to be well informed about formularies and co-pays, the ins and outs of the Affordable Care Act, and the resources now available to help save prescription costs. As the complexities of reimbursement increase, patients are in need of a wide array of resources and support, and so are those who serve them.

“Those coordinating reimbursement must remain informed,” says Heather Schoenly, Senior Product Manager of Shire’s Neuroscience Business Unit. “At Shire, we recognize the importance of helping provide appropriate education wherever we can—to help those coordinating reimbursements, to answer questions, and to provide patients with helpful resources.” 

“At Shire, we recognize the importance of helping provide appropriate education wherever we can—to help those coordinating reimbursements, to answer questions, and to provide patients with helpful resources.”

Heather Schoenly, Senior Product Manager 

In August 2014, following a number of in-depth conversations and careful analyses, Shire launched the ADHD Practice Connections Program—an integrated resource plan that reflects Shire’s commitment to serving not just ADHD patients and physicians but all those who work in the health-care office. The program, says Schoenly, is designed to help educate both those who coordinate patient reimbursements and the patients themselves.

The ADHD Practice Connections Program offers resources ranging from a formulary look-up flashcard that provides formulary and co-pay information to an Affordable Care FAQ Guide for Reimbursement Coordinators to insights into the changing health care coverage landscape.

“We’ve been holistic in our approach,” says Schoenly. “We’ve listened to concerns, looked for opportunities, and created resources that are meant to be shared by our sales team—not as a quick leave behind, but as part of a larger educational conversation with those in the reimbursement role.”

Over time, says Schoenly, Shire will develop additional materials that the reimbursement coordinators can share with patients. “This is the beginning of what we think will be an important conversation,” she says.