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    Clinical decision support

    Cell & gene therapy: Using data to assess risk and financial impact

     

     

    Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) represent one of the most significant advances in modern medicine, and they also bring new financial and operational complexity for employer-sponsored health plans. As more therapies target conditions that affect employees and their families, benefits leaders need to assess potential risk exposure, benefit design options, long-term sustainability, and equitable access with greater clarity.

    This expert-led discussion will help employers move beyond treating CGTs as rare, one-off events. Instead, we’ll explore how organizations can use data, analytics, and planning frameworks to anticipate risk, model potential financial impact, and make informed decisions about coverage and plan design. The discussion will also address practical considerations such as stop-loss coverage, vendor and carrier coordination, employee communication, and the tradeoffs involved in balancing medical innovation with affordability.

    Speakers

    IMG-Truven-KatherineS-circle

    Katherine Shanahan

    Senior Pharmacy Analytic Advisor

    Katherine Shanahan is a pharmaceutical industry expert, assisting commercial and government payers, providers, and research teams in developing actionable pharmacy-related analytics, strategies, and programs. With a background in pharmacology, toxicology, drug research and development, she began working with payers over a decade ago, driven by the emergence of specialty medication and the opioid crisis. Katherine supports efforts to identify cost saving opportunities, improve prescribing quality, reduce misuse and abuse of medications, and lower barriers to effective treatment in order to make healthcare more affordable and effective for plans and patients alike.

    IMG_Truven_Headshot_Tom Sondergeld

    Tom Sondergeld

    Senior Director, Analysis, Research & Solutions, Enterprise Employers

    Tom Sondergeld is a proven industry leader in leveraging cutting-edge solutions to maximize return on investment in employee benefits. Tom brings 30 years in leading the transformation of company total rewards program structures, strategies, and distribution mechanisms with operational excellence. He brings deep experience across the employee benefits landscape, having spent much of his career working with employers (such as Walgreens and Aon) on benefit strategy, population risk, and cost management. His work consistently focuses on applying data and analytics to real‑world benefit challenges, including healthcare affordability, plan design decisions, and the evaluation of emerging therapies and innovations.