Prescription Drug Costs and Strategies to Deal with Them–Presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Prime Therapeutics

Join the Wichita Association of Health Underwriters on Thursday June 15, 2017, 11:30 AM at Abode Venue in Wichita, 1330 E. Douglas  for our next scheduled educational luncheon.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Prime Therapeutics will discuss the increasing cost of prescription drugs and strategies to deal with them.  In addition, Blue Cross will discuss the 2018 exchange rate actions and the implications of the Kansas City Blues plan withdrawal from the market.

This luncheon will include both Blue Cross of Kansas and Prime staff members:

Bill Karolski, PharmD, PhD, Regional Vice President of Client Engagement, Prime Therapeutics

Having recently rejoined Prime Therapeutics after serving as a Regional Account Executive with Amgen, Bill’s serves as a Regional Vice President of Client Engagement in partnership with several Midwestern Blues plans and Prime’s Select Service clients.

Bill has served in various PBM roles with Prime Therapeutics over that last decade, including Sr Dir of Strategic Accounts, Account Executive, and Sales Executive with regional responsibility for BCBSNE, BCBSKS, BCBSWY, BCBSND, and BCBSMT.   Historical responsibilities have included ASO employer group retention and sales, clinical program management, formulary management, benefit design consultation, and relationship management with key health plan stakeholders.

Bill completed his managed care pharmacy residency at BCBSNE, and holds a doctorate in pharmacy from the University of NE Medical Center in 2003 and an ACS/BS Chemistry from Creighton University.

Kenneth Mishler, PharmD, MBA, Director of Pharmacy Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas

 Ken, “grew up” working in his hometown community pharmacy from the time he was in the 7th grade.  After graduating from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy, he spent the next 25 years working as a staff pharmacist, Critical Care Pharmacist and Pharmacy Clinical Coordinator  in hospitals located in Parsons, Lawrence and Kansas City.

With the advent of Medicare Part D, Ken accepted a position with the Kansas Foundation for Medical Care, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization, the Medicare designated Quality Improvement Organization for Kansas.  In 2015, Ken joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas.

Ken received both his Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees from the University of Kansas School of Pharmacy and his MBA from the Baker University School of Graduate Studies.

Michael G. Eichten, CLU®, ChFC® is Director of Group Sales for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas since 2014.

Having joined Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas in 2014, Mike oversees the sales efforts in 103 counties supporting the sales team consisting of four Managers, 24 Large Group Representatives and 10 Small Group Representatives.

Having more than 30 years of experience in the insurance and financial services industry, Mike served as President and CEO of Peoples Benefit Group, LLC, from 1999-2014.

He earned his Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow designation in 1987, the Chartered Life Underwriter designation in 1991, and the Chartered Financial Consultant designation in 2001. He is also a graduate of the Agency Management Training Council.  Mike is a member and past president of NAIFA Topeka. He is also a member of the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he is a member and past president of the Sales and Marketing Executives of Topeka and a past president of the Shawnee County unit of the American Cancer Society.

In 1994, he was a winner of the JC Penney “Golden Rule” award and recognized “In the Limelight” for volunteerism with the American Cancer Society and Junior Achievement.

In addition to our presentation, WAHU will holds its annual confirmation of the Board of Directors.

Please plan on attending this important event!