Facilitating Optimal Outcomes for the Management of Retinal Diseases:
Health Plan Best Practice Recommendations
Spotlight on Diabetic Retinopathy & Diabetic Macular Edema Case Study

• Release Date: December 15, 2022
• Expiration Date: January 31, 2024
• Estimated Time to Complete Activity: 0.5 hour
• Compatible with all modern browsers and mobile devices

EXPERT FACULTY

Jeffrey Dunn, PharmD, MBA (Chair) Chief Clinical Officer Cooperative Benefits Group (CBG) Click here for biography W. Lloyd Clark, MD Assistant Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology University of South Carolina School of Medicine Palmetto Retina Center Click here for biography Dana McCormick, RPh, FAMCP Director of Pharmacy Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Click here for biography

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the educational needs of medical directors, registered nurses, pharmacy directors, clinical pharmacists, specialty pharmacists, quality directors, as well as network physicians affiliated with various MCOs, health systems, and other payer organizations.

Statement of Need/Program Overview

Managed care professionals are responsible for weighing the efficacy, safety, and cost of therapeutic interventions against considerations of member affordability and access to care. In diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular edema (DME), factors surrounding evidence-based diagnosis and disease management principles precede these considerations and highlight the importance of case-based learning to elucidate the provider and patient journey. Such education can be instrumental in facilitating appropriate drug coverage and optimal outcomes.

Educational Objectives 
After completing this activity, the participant should be better able to:

• Describe evidence-based considerations in applying available screening modalities and appropriate treatment strategies for optimal outcomes in DR/DME
• Differentiate between available pharmacologic treatment options for retinal diseases in terms of efficacy, safety, and dosing regimen
• Discuss findings from the Protocol T study differentiating the efficacy of anti-VEGF therapies for retinal diseases
• Outline different treatment approaches with anti-VEGF therapies, including treat-and-extend strategies
• Implement medical and pharmacy benefit design strategies that facilitate patient access to evidence-based treatment options for retinal diseases

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Medical Education Resources (MER) and Impact Education, LLC. MER is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 0.5 Interprofessional continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.

Physician Credit
Medical Education Resources designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing Credit
Medical Education Resources designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.5 ANCC nursing contact hours. Nurses will be awarded contact hours upon successful completion of the activity.

Medical Education Resources is a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #CEP 12299, for 0.5 contact hours.

Pharmacist Credit
	Medical Education Resources (MER) designates this continuing education activity for 0.5 contact hour (0.05 CEUs) of the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education. Universal Program Number – JA0003680-9999-22-038-H01-P This activity is certified as Knowledge-based CPE.

DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED USE
This educational activity may contain discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA. The planners of this activity do not recommend the use of any agent outside of the labeled indications.

The opinions expressed in the educational activity are those of the faculty and do not necessarily represent the views of the planners. Please refer to the official prescribing information for each product for discussion of approved indications, contraindications, and warnings.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest
Medical Education Resources ensures balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all our educational activities. In accordance with this policy, MER identifies conflicts of interest with its instructors, content managers, and other individuals who are in a position to control the content of an activity. Conflicts are resolved by MER to ensure that all scientific research referred to, reported, or used in a continuing education activity conforms to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis. MER is committed to providing its learners with high-quality activities that promote improvements or quality in health care and not the business interest of a commercial interest.

The faculty reported the following financial relationships with commercial interests whose products or services may be mentioned in this activity:

The content managers reported the following financial relationships with commercial interests whose products or services may be mentioned in this activity:

DISCLAIMER
The content and views presented in this educational activity are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Medical Education Resources, Impact Education, LLC, and/or Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The authors have disclosed if there is any discussion of published and/or investigational uses of agents that are not indicated by the FDA in their presentations. Before prescribing any medicine, primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted. Any procedures, medications, or other courses of diagnosis or treatment discussed or suggested in this activity should not be used by clinicians without evaluation of their patient’s conditions and possible contraindications on dangers in use, review of any applicable manufacturer’s product information, and comparison with recommendations of other authorities. The information presented in this activity is not meant to serve as a guideline for patient management.

METHOD OF PARTICIPATION AND REQUEST FOR CREDIT
There are no fees for participating and receiving CME/CE credit for this activity. During the accreditation period, participants must 1) read the learning objectives and faculty disclosures; 2) study the educational activity; 3) and complete the evaluation form. Upon completion of the full CME/CE activity, your certificate will be made available immediately to download and print.

For Pharmacists: Upon successfully completing the activity evaluation form, you may immediately submit your CPE credit to the NABP CPE Monitor Service. This may require you to add or update the e-profile ID/date of birth information saved in your account.

MEDIA
Internet

FEE INFORMATION
There is no fee for this educational activity.