Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit

John H. Brooks, JD, MBA
Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Drug Pricing Reform
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

John Brooks is the Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Drug Pricing Reform at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Principal Deputy Director for the Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). At HHS, Mr. Brooks coordinates the Department’s efforts on reducing prescription drug prices, focusing on improving competition, lowering list prices, addressing foreign free-riding, and reducing out-of-pocket costs for all Americans as described in the Administration’s Blueprint for drug pricing reform. Additionally, at CMS, Mr. Brooks is the Principal Deputy of the Center for Medicare, which oversees the Medicare Fee-For-Service, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D Programs.

Previously, Mr. Brooks has served as the health policy advisor for the White House Domestic Policy Council for CMS issues, and as the Counselor for Health Policy to the HHS Secretary at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Prior to that, he was the Department Head for Health Policy at the MITRE Corporation, overseeing a team that worked with federal agencies across the federal government to develop and implement health policy. John has a JD from the University Of Virginia School Of Law, an MBA from Virginia Tech, and a BS from Franciscan University.

Speaking at these upcoming events:

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA
Copay Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA

Anna Chorniy, PhD
Research Assistant Professor, Department of Medical Social Sciences, Buehler Center for Health Policy & Economics, Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University

Anna Chorniy is a Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University. Her research focuses on health economics and encompasses elements of labor economics and industrial organization. Anna’s interests include the impact of public health insurance programs, Medicare and Medicaid, on individuals’ health and wellbeing. She is particularly interested in children’s mental health. In the most recent work, she looks at the effects of ADHD treatment on children health, behavioral, and educational outcomes. Anna also has worked on the Medicare Part D plan pricing and coverage and effects of FDA policies on drug R&D. Anna earned her Ph.D. in Economics from Clemson University and completed her postdoctoral training at Princeton University.

Speaking at these upcoming events:

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA
Copay Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA

Amanda Forys
Senior Director, Policy, Pricing, and Reimbursement
United Therapeutics Corporation

Amanda Forys, MSPH, is the Senior Director of Policy, Pricing, and Reimbursement at United Therapeutics. Her experience includes reimbursement policy analytics, with emphases on Medicare and commercial coverage and payment policy. Her work has covered a wide range of topics, including chronic disease management, post-acute care, long-term care, mental health, and specialty services.

Ms. Forys has focused on policy analysis through claims data and cost reports, as well as payment system modeling, budget scoring, and chronic disease studies. Prior to joining United Therapeutics in 2018, she worked at Xcenda, The Moran Company, The National Association for Home Care & Hospice, and The Lewin Group. Ms. Forys serves as a national speaker on healthcare, and has presented at numerous health and policy conferences. Ms. Forys has also presented findings of research to members of Congress, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Federal budget offices, and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC).

Ms. Forys received her Master of Science in Public Health from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with a concentration in health policy and administration. During this time, she completed an internship with the Government Accountability Office's healthcare team. She received a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biopsychology and Cognitive Sciences and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Voice Performance from the University of Michigan.

Speaking at these upcoming events:

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA

Stephen Perkins
Chief Medical Officer
UPMC Health Plan

Stephen E. Perkins, MD, serves as the Chief Medical Officer, Commercial & Medicare Services for UPMC Health Plan. As a member of Health Plan’s senior management team, Dr. Perkins provides clinical leadership for all Quality Improvement, Medical Management , and Provider Network Development activities. In addition, he oversees UPMC Health Plan Community Health Initiatives with UPMC as an integrated finance and delivery system.

Previously Dr. Perkins serviced as Vice President of Medical Affairs and Senior Medical Director for UPMC Health Plan. In that position, he provided strategic and clinical leadership and medical oversight for the Health Plan’s commercial products and served as senior medical director for UPMC WorkPartners’ suite of workers’ compensation, employee assistance, health promotion, and health management products.

Prior to joining the Health Plan in 2010, Dr. Perkins served for 12 years as corporate medical director for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont, the largest Vermont-based health coverage carrier. His 30 years in the health care field also included 13 years as a family physician in South Charleston, W.Va.

Dr. Perkins received his undergraduate degree in biology from West Virginia University and his M.D. from the WVU School of Medicine in Morgantown. He completed his residency in Family Practice at Kanawha Valley Family Practice Center in South Charleston, W. Va.

Speaking at these upcoming events:

Copay Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA
Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA

Robert Popovian
Vice President, US Government Relations
Pfizer

Dr. Robert Popovian is Vice-President, US Government Relations at Pfizer Inc. For the past 2 decades, Dr. Popovian has published and presented extensively on the impact of biopharmaceuticals and health policies on health care costs and clinical outcomes, including authorship in clinical and healthcare delivery journals and published expert source in Los Angeles Times, USA Today, The Hill, Pink Sheet and Bloomberg News amongst many others. He also writes a regularly published column in Morning Consult regarding health policy and economic issues relevant to the biopharmaceutical industry. He currently serves as a board member for the Global Healthy Living Foundation.

Dr. Popovian completed his Doctorate in Pharmacy and Masters of Science in Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy degrees at the University of Southern California with honors.

Speaking at these upcoming events:

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA
Copay Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA

Debbie Walters
Assistant Vice President, General Counsel
Pfizer

Debbie Walters-Francique is Vice President, Assistant General Counsel at Pfizer Inc. and is the Legal lead for the Commercial Solutions Platform Legal team who support: Organized Customers, Government Pricing and Government Contracting functions, Patient, Health & Impact which includes HEOR functions, Account Management and Sales functions, Global Trade Controls and various Strategy, Commercial and Medical Operations groups as well as advisory and counseling related to drug pricing transparency.

In addition to supporting day-to-day activities related to the above functions Mrs. Walters-Francique also provides expertise and counsel to a broad range of clients across the entire organization related to the federal and state Anti-Kickback laws, as well as provide key strategic support into the development and evolution of field commercial and medical roles and interactions. She has been with Pfizer since 2000.

Prior to joining Pfizer, Mrs. Walters-Francique was in private practice with the law firm of Shearman & Sterling in their Mergers & Acquisition Group.

Speaking at these upcoming events:

Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Strategies Summit
December 11 - 12, 2019 • Alexandria, VA

2017 Speaking Faculty