Innovative therapies and advanced technology are creating an evolution in the clinical landscape. We spoke to Lissette Lorenzo, our SVP of Clinical Strategy & Services, about the clinical trends that are shaping healthcare, and how Abarca is working to deliver a more seamless and personalized future.
Tell us a little bit about your background and your new role at Abarca.
I have spent more than 20 years working in various facets of the healthcare industry, including with payers, retailers, hospitals, and PBMs. My primary focus has been in the managed care segment, with an emphasis in managing both the operations and clinical services aspects of pharmacy.
I was actually working at one of the nation’s largest PBMs—serving as a key liaison between my employer’s clinical operations, clinical products, and clients—when a mentor insisted I meet Jason Borschow. He shared his vision for the future of Abarca and the market at-large, which I found bold and compelling. After meeting with other senior leaders in the organization, I felt confident that I could make an impact with and for this organization.
Now, as SVP of Clinical Strategy & Services, I get to lead a team that is focused on finding ways to transform total care management through advanced technology.
What do seamless and personalized clinical services look like? What is Abarca doing to make that a reality?
Seamless and personalized clinical services require two things: advanced technology and strong partnerships.
Abarca’s vision is to provide a comprehensive platform that offers clinical intelligence to healthcare providers and members via personalized outreach, tailored screenings for gaps in care opportunities, and improved data integration with digital platforms and health data devices.
Ultimately, the goal is to achieve better value-based outcomes at lower patient costs.
Has the surge in demand for GLP-1s to treat obesity impacted how payers approach their clinical services? If so, how?
GLP-1s have sent healthcare payers scrambling. Historically, weight loss is not covered under pharmacy benefits. But we’re now at a point where it can no longer be ignored, particularly as GLP-1s are poised to become the number one drug cost for payers.
So, my team and I are working closely with our clients to establish coverage criteria for obesity, providing predictive analytics on potential budget impacts, and designing a program that personalizes the member experience by tracking progress and providing interactive education and coaching.
We are seeking answers to important questions regarding these drugs, such as their long-term effects, optimal usage duration, budget impact and predictive analytics insights, as weight loss analysis becomes more intricate for our clients.
What are the key clinical trends you’re watching as we head into the second half of 2024?
One of the trends that I am most excited about is the adoption of AI and machine learning for diagnosing, personalized medicine, clinical decision support, and other applications. This technology could transform healthcare, and our team is exploring its potential to provide clinicians real-time recommendations and data to expedite decision making.
I am also interested in the evolving US biosimilar market. As this segment continues to grow, we’re monitoring how biosimilar adoption will vary by therapeutic categories, pricing and access strategies, and its impact on specialty costs.
You’ve been a leader at Abarca for more than eight years. How has the company evolved since you started?
Since I joined Abarca, our team has grown steadily with bright, talented Abarcans bringing fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. I have also seen our platform, Darwin™, continue to evolve as we’ve embraced new trends and integrated new technologies.
However, our culture remains the same as on my first day. Our team is as committed as ever to living our values and finding a better way in everything we do. And, even after eight years, I am still excited about how Abarca can change healthcare.