PharmaShots Interview: Janssen’s Nikki Longwell Shares Insights on the National Biologic Coordinators Day

In an interview with PharmaShots, Nikki Longwell, Sr. Director, Medical Science Liaisons, Immunology at Janssen shares her views on the launch of the National Biologic Coordinators Day supporting the needs of people living with autoimmune diseases

Shots:

The company has launched the first national awareness day “National Biologic Coordinators Day” on Nov 1 which is also known as a day to honor and celebrate biologic coordinators that help to support the patients living with autoimmune diseases
Additionally, a biologic coordinator is a member of a medical practice’s office staff that helps patients navigate the arduous & complex process of obtaining access to prescribed biological medications
Biologic coordinators collaborated with the patient, prescribing healthcare provider, specialty pharmacy, manufacturer, and insurance company to improve the patient outcomes

Tuba: What is “National Biologics Coordinator’s Day”? When is it celebrated?

Nikki Longwell: Biologic coordinators are some of the most important advocates for patients in healthcare—yet too often, their work goes unrecognized. Janssen, a company of Johnson & Johnson, recognizes the daily commitment of these unsung heroes in inpatient care. We launched the first national awareness day solely dedicated to these individuals—National Biologic Coordinators Day on November 1 – to provide an annual day to recognize these healthcare workers and share gratitude for all they do.

Tuba: Who are these Biologics Coordinators? Why is Janssen calling them unsung heroes?

Nikki Longwell: A biologic coordinator is a key member of a medical practice’s office staff—a doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, medical assistant, or an office/practice manager—that helps patients navigate the arduous, and at times complex process of obtaining access to prescribed biologic medications.

Janssen is inspired by the connectivity, dedication, and compassion of these important healthcare workers for the patients they work tirelessly to support. We call biologic coordinators unsung heroes because they play a critical role they play in a patient’s treatment journey—yet too often, their work goes unrecognized.

Tuba: What is the reason behind selecting November 1 as “National Biologics Coordinator’s Day”? Any specific rationale?

Nikki Longwell: Janssen has a longstanding commitment to supporting the needs of people living with autoimmune diseases, as well as the care teams involved in the patient journey. We recognize the daily commitment of these unsung heroes in inpatient care and wanted to create an annual dedication where the community can share gratitude.

Being a biologic coordinator is a year-round job, but they are often their busiest:

At the start of each year when insurance policy changes come into effect and annual patient reverifications happen, for example, prescription coverage and eligibility for pharmaceutical manufacturers’ medication support and access programs, among others.
During the yearly period when people can enroll in a health insurance plan–known as open enrollment (November 1–December 15).

In honoring and celebrating biologic coordinators on November 1, Janssen hopes to establish a positive kickoff to the open enrollment period.

Tuba: What were the activities planned by Janssen for “National Biologics Coordinator’s Day”?

Nikki Longwell: To drive engagement and awareness around this important recognition day, Janssen created a suite of materials, including an educational infographic and visual social content, for advocacy partners, institutions, and professional associations to share and show their appreciation for biologic coordinators on the local level and on their personal social media channels.

We also deployed robust social media content across Janssen’s Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn account using #BeCauseYouCare and #NationalBiologicCoordinatorsDay in the weeks leading up to and on November 1 to demonstrate our commitment to making sure the work of biologic coordinators is recognized—not just among patients and physicians, but also among the industry and general public. We are looking forward to building upon and expanding these activities in 2022.

Tuba: We understand that due to COVID times you can’t organize an in-person event, but are there any plans for virtual events, and what all you plan to do?

Nikki Longwell: With the launch of National Biologic Coordinators Day this year, November 1 will always be known as a day to honor and celebrate biologic coordinators. As part of our inaugural efforts, 10 advocacy and third-party organizations showed their support for biologic coordinators on social media. Janssen will continue to provide educational materials and drive awareness activities encouraging people to get involved each year.

Tuba: Biologic coordinators serve a variety of patients. Where does Janssen see the greatest unmet need in these communities, and how can biologic coordinators help facilitate improved patient outcomes?

Nikki Longwell: The use of biologic therapies for the treatment of certain chronic diseases continues to rise and navigating the process of obtaining access to these prescribed medications can be arduous, and at times, a complex process.

As a connecting force between the patient, prescribing healthcare provider, specialty pharmacy, manufacturer, and insurance company, biologic coordinators work hard to help facilitate improved patient outcomes in a number of ways:

Explaining to patients what to expect, in terms of the information an insurance company might request and how they can assist navigating coverage challenges or denials;
Working closely with the patient’s healthcare provider to get the most up-to-date information about their care, including collecting detailed medication records, insurance information, medical history, and healthcare provider’s clinical notes which are needed in the pre-authorization process;
Filling out and submitting pre-authorization forms to insurance companies on a patient’s behalf;
Keeping a close eye on updates from the insurance company—and when denials happen, acting quickly with an appeal on a patient’s behalf;
Triaging prescriptions to the special pharmacy provider (SPP) once insurance is approved on a patient’s behalf;
Providing support to patients on calls with their insurance company and SPP;
Helping patients coordinate with SPPs and navigate their medication delivery and injection appointments; and
Follow up with patients to ensure their prescriptions have been filled and assist with any questions related to co-pay or Medicare costs.

Source: The Conversation

About Author:

Nikki Longwell is the Senior Director, Medical Science Liaisons, Immunology at Janssen. She has been in Medical Affairs for over 18 years with increasing roles of responsibility at Sepracor while launching Lunesta (now Sunovion) and at Questcor (now Mallinckrodt). She received her bachelor's degree from Wesleyan University, Ph.D. in Psychopharmacology from Tufts University, and completed her post-doctoral training in pre-clinical and clinical pharmacology at Harvard Medical School. 