Vizient Hosts Congressional Briefing to Discuss Rising Prescription Drug Costs

IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Vizient, Inc. will host a congressional briefing today titled “Rx for Success – Part II” with a panel that includes U.S. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn) and experts from Allina Health and Lifespan. The briefing — the second in a series highlighting how hospital providers nationwide are managing and mitigating rising prescription drug costs — will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

“Vizient is excited to continue to advocate around the issues and opportunities that exist to lower drug costs in this country,” said Dan Kistner, senior vice president, pharmacy solutions for Vizient. “We appreciate our member hospitals and elected leaders such as Rep. Craig who will vocalize how drug pricing and drug shortages are negatively impacting their communities and the patients they serve.”

The panel will primarily focus on hospitals’ perspectives on this important issue. The group will discuss solutions, such as strategies to increase generic drug competition, enhance supply chain efficiencies, prepare for biosimilar adoption and help avoid drug shortages.

“I am looking forward to participating in today’s Congressional briefing to talk about the number one issue I hear about from Minnesotans in my district: the need to address the cost of healthcare and drive down prescription drug prices,” said Rep. Craig. “I’m working hard in Congress to push for legislation to address these issues, including bills to increase transparency in drug costs, drive competition, and drive down the price of prescription drugs for Minnesota families.”

In addition to Congresswoman Craig, the briefing will feature:

• Ann E. Byre, PharmD, vice president of pharmacy services for Allina Health
• Christine Collins, RPh, MBA, director of pharmacy for Lifespan
• Dan Kistner, PharmD, senior vice president, pharmacy solutions, Vizient

Vizient is the nation’s largest member-driven health care performance improvement company, providing innovative data-driven solutions, expertise, and collaborative opportunities that lead to improved patient outcomes and lower costs.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc. provides solutions and services that improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance for more than 50% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 95% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 20% of ambulatory providers. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $100 billion in annual purchasing volume, to improve patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient has earned a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute every year since its inception. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.

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