[September 17, 2014]

Key Stakeholders in the Healthcare Ecosystem to Attend the Inaugural FDA/CMS Summit for Payers

IIR today announced the FDA/CMS Summit for Payers, a new event dedicated to forging collaboration between the key stakeholders in the rapidly evolving healthcare ecosystem. The FDA/CMS Summit for Payers will bring together leaders from the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), healthplans, and pharmaceutical companies to harmonize individual interests for the benefit of patients. The FDA/CMS Summit for Payers will be held in conjunction with 10th Annual FDA/CMS Summit for Biopharmaceutical Executives, December 11-12, 2014 at The Fairmont Hotel in Washington D.C.

In addition to confirmed speakers from the FDA, CMS and C-Level health plan executives, Karen Ignagni, President and CEO of AHIP has been added to the speaking faculty. Ignagni, the voice of health insurance plans, will headline a keynote session on Pricing and Reimbursement - The Tipping Point in the Future of Healthcare. Recognized as one of the strongest and most effective lobbyists in Washington, Ignagni will providecompelling insights and a valuable perspective.

The healthcare system in the United States is undergoing a major transformation that has significant implications for all major stakeholders, but above all, the patient. With healthcare costs continuing to spiral upwards and millions of newly insured Americans covered by the Affordable Care Act (ACA), healthcare regulators and payers (public and private) are aggressively seeking ways to lower the cost of treatments. Their current and anticipated cost-saving efforts challenge drug developers to continue developing innovative new therapies at great cost without the assurance of a successful commercialization and reimbursement pathway. Meanwhile, patients' insurance premiums continue to rise without the assurance of access to life saving treatments.

"The FDA/CMS Summit for Payers is a unique and powerful forum bringing together all of the key stakeholders in the healthcare ecosystem to begin working together to find solutions to our healthcare crisis," said Elizabeth Cutler, Managing Director, IIR/IBC Life Sciences. "The only path forward is for all key stakeholders to work cooperatively together to meet the diverse needs of patients in an ever-changing and technologically advanced environment. The days of working in silos are over."

For more information about The FDA/CMS Summit for Payers, please visit: www.FDACMSSummitforPayers.com

About IIR:

The Institute for International Research (IIR) is the world's largest conference company and has been the leader in the provision of business information for over 25 years. IIR produces over 5,000 events annually through its network of offices in over 35 countries.

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