Patient Conditions/Disease States

In this last installment of our rare disease series, we speak with Angela Luong, PharmD, Senior Clinical Consultant at Pharmaceutical Strategies Group. Our discussion focuses on the burden of sickle cell disease, chronic pain management, limited treatment options, and the implications for managed care programs, including the use of data and care coordination to improve patient outcomes. This activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AMCP offers CPE for this podcast through December 31, 2026.

This episode continues AMCP’s rare disease series with an in-depth look at IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a progressive autoimmune kidney disease that often goes undiagnosed until advanced stages. We speak with Ami Gopalan, Senior Vice President of Strategic Content and Growth Optimization at Precision AQ. As a patient living with IgAN, Ami brings both a professional and personal perspective to the discussion as we explore the disease’s silent progression, the burden it places on patients and families, the evolving treatment landscape, and how managed care can better incorporate patient value, clinical guidelines, and emerging evidence to support long-term outcomes. This podcast is supported by an independent medical education grant from Alexion and AstraZeneca Rare Disease. AMCP offers CPE for this podcast through December 31, 2026.

In this episode of Unscripted, we continue our rare disease series with a focus on hemophilia and the substantial clinical, financial, and psychosocial burdens it places on patients and families. We speak with Janna Evans, Director of Pharmacy Sales Support at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, who discusses how health plans manage high-cost therapies, balance individualized patient needs with access requirements, and navigate prior authorization and step-therapy processes. She also highlights the need for better patient-reported outcomes, the day-to-day impact of the disease, and the broader considerations for employers and caregivers within managed care.

In this episode of Unscripted, AMCP explores vitiligo as a complex autoimmune disease with significant psychosocial and clinical implications. Dr. Iltefat Hamzavi, MD, FADD discusses the burden of delayed diagnosis, the societal and emotional challenges patients face, and the importance of early, individualized treatment. He outlines current therapeutic approaches—including topical agents, phototherapy, systemic options, and surgical interventions—and highlights the condition’s associations with other autoimmune diseases. The conversation underscores how education, support, and emerging medical advances are reshaping outcomes and quality of life for people living with vitiligo. This podcast is sponsored by AbbVie.

In this episode of Unscripted, we speak with Steve Kheloussi, PharmD, MBA, FAMCP, Principal Consultant at Kheloussi Consulting, LLC, in the first installment of our four-part series on rare diseases. We discuss a practical overview of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the current treatment landscape, and the evidence gaps that complicate payer decision-making. We also touch on the importance of what patients and caregivers need to maintain function, reduce fatigue, and navigate the significant emotional and practical burdens of care. This podcast is supported by an independent medical education grant from ITF Therapeutics. AMCP offers CPE for this podcast through December 31, 2026. For additional information and to claim credit, please visit: The Power of Partnership: Bridging Patients and Payers in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Management.

In this episode of Unscripted, we talk with Marty Acevedo, MS, RD, Patient Advocate and President & Board Chair of the Parkinson’s Association of San Diego. Marty shares her personal journey with Parkinson’s disease—from a delayed diagnosis to managing symptoms, treatment decisions, and the impact on daily life. She discusses the importance of individualized care, the essential role of caregivers, and the value of evidence-based resources. Marty also highlights her involvement in the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) research study and offers perspective on emerging advances and potential disease-modifying therapies that may shape the future of Parkinson’s care.

In this episode of Unscripted, AMCP speaks with Sheena Crosby, PharmD, BCGP, Inflammatory Bowel Disease Clinical Pharmacist at the Mayo Clinic in Florida. Sheena breaks down the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) updated guidelines for ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, highlighting major shifts in treatment strategy, including the move toward earlier use of advanced therapies and updated goals focused on symptom control, mucosal healing, and sustained remission. She also outlines the critical payer considerations emphasized in the guidelines—from eliminating unnecessary step-therapy requirements to ensuring timely access to induction and maintenance therapy—changes that have direct implications for patient outcomes and health-system performance.

In this emotional video, meet Kate Vander Weele who shares her family’s journey as her 12-year-old son Logan battles Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a rare and fatal genetic disease that causes progressive muscle loss.

Meet Kevin Wake, a 57-year-old sickle cell warrior from Kansas City, who shares his personal journey living with this lifelong genetic blood disorder.

Meet Nathan Mermilliod who shares his experience living with severe hemophilia B, a rare bleeding disorder that requires lifelong prophylactic treatment to prevent dangerous internal bleeds.

Meet Ami Gopalan, who shares her journey living with IgA nephropathy, a rare autoimmune kidney disease that attacks the kidneys.

In this episode, we talk with Franck Rahaghi, MD, MHS, Executive Director of Cardiopulmonary Global Medical Affairs at United Therapeutics, about pulmonary hypertension in interstitial lung disease (PH-ILD), a serious and often under-recognized condition at the intersection of two progressive diseases. We discuss the importance of early recognition, the role of multidisciplinary care, emerging treatment options, and what patients, clinicians, and payers should know to improve outcomes.