Day One, September 1, 2026Tuesday, 1 September 2026 - MT (Mexican Pacific Time, GMT-07:00)

As technology continues to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry, patient support leaders face growing pressure to adopt cutting-edge innovations to enhance patient access, streamline operations and improve outcomes. This industry panel brings together leaders from top pharmaceutical organizations to share their experiences, strategies and lessons learned in adopting technology and AI within hub models. Gain actionable insights into how your peers are driving innovation to meet the evolving needs of patients and providers.

• Explore how leading pharma companies are integrating AI and automation into hub operations to improve efficiency, personalize patient support and enhance decision-making
• Discover innovative approaches to digital tools and platforms that simplify prior authorizations, streamline communication and elevate patient engagement
• Gain strategies to overcome challenges such as implementation, scalability and compliance when adopting new technologies

As patient service programs face increasing scrutiny, the challenge lies in demonstrating program value to executive teams without reducing them to purely financial metrics. This session explores how to leverage data as a storytelling tool to highlight the strategic importance of PSPs, educate stakeholders and redefine success metrics to align with patient-first priorities. Attendees gain actionable insights into navigating conversations with the C-suite, advocating for PSPs as essential drivers of patient outcomes and long-term organizational success.

• Learn how to navigate conversations with executive teams to position PSPs as strategic assets, balancing patient-first outcomes with commercial objectives
• Explore strategies to advocate for PSPs in an environment of pressure, including shrinking budgets and program cuts
• Identify innovative KPIs that go beyond outdated metrics like call speed and application volume, focusing instead on patient outcomes, engagement quality and speed to therapy

The prior authorization (PA) process remains one of the most significant barriers to timely patient access, compounded by the growing complexity of the insurance and policy landscape. As new direct-to-consumer models, such as TrumpRx, emerge alongside evolving payer policies, hub leaders must adapt to ensure patients receive the care they need without unnecessary delays. This session will explore the challenges of the PA process, the impact of broader insurance trends and actionable strategies to simplify workflows, improve transparency and reduce access barriers.

• Understand the complexity of the current insurance and policy landscape, including evolving payer requirements and regulatory changes that impact PA workflows
• Identify best practices to streamline the PA process, improve transparency and reduce delays in patient access
• Leverage technology, data and stakeholder collaboration to create efficient, patient-centric solutions that address PA challenges while navigating broader market dynamics

During this session, hear from industry thought leader Warris Bokhari, who operates at the intersection of patient rights, health policy and digital health. Take a deeper look into the broken nature of the U.S. insurance system, including the outdated data and inefficient processes that delay or deny patient access to therapy.

• Learn how technology can help craft personalized, high-impact appeals by leveraging policy details, local laws, medical research and patient-specific stories
• Explore the role of automation in reducing administrative burden for hub teams, ensuring appeals are processed efficiently and patients stay on therapy
• Examine how engaging key stakeholders, such as state officials, employers and insurers, can amplify advocacy efforts and drive systemic change
• Gain actionable insights for manufacturers to align their patient support strategies with innovative technologies and collaborative advocacy to improve outcomes

Direct-to-patient (DTP) programs are rapidly evolving into powerful tools that connect pharmaceutical manufacturers directly with patients, to address critical barriers in access, affordability and adherence. This session delves into how pharma leaders are reimagining DTP models to create meaningful, measurable impacts for both patients and brands.

• Understand the different considerations, and lay out an evaluation framework, to determine if DTP is viable for your current portfolio makeup

• Learn how innovative technologies and patient-centric approaches are transforming DTP programs into growth engines that solve friction points and enhance the patient experience

• Examine how to navigate regulatory pressures, competitive dynamics and market complexities to design next-generation DTP programs tailored to patient and brand needs

• Explore strategies for building customized DTP models, whether cash, coverage or hybrid, that maximize access, affordability and adherence while fostering patient trust

• Discover how data and analytics frameworks are being used to measure, refine and optimize the success of DTP programs on patient outcomes and brand performance

With the healthcare landscape growing more complex, organizations are rethinking traditional hub models to create hybrid solutions that combine the control of in-house operations with the expertise and scalability of external partners. This session explores the strategic drivers, operational considerations and innovative approaches to building and managing a hybrid hub that delivers exceptional patient support and access.

• Explore the strategic and financial considerations of insourcing versus outsourcing, and how to design a hybrid model that balances internal control with external expertise
• Learn how to build a flexible infrastructure that integrates internal operations with external resources while maintaining compliance and quality standards
• Discover strategies to recruit and develop specialized teams that deliver exceptional patient support and operational efficiency
• Gain insights into leveraging technology, data analytics and KPIs to measure success, improve patient outcomes and optimize hybrid hub performance

Patient support programs are built to remove barriers, but even when breakdown points are well understood, enrollment into support often depends on how and when patients are introduced to the right pathway.

• Understand how variability at the point of entry, across providers, specialty pharmacies and support programs impacts patient enrollment

• Examine why patient capture remains inconsistent despite established infrastructure and processes

• Discover how enrollment tools can transform patient acquisition into a seamless, point-of-care experience by aligning workflows and timing

• Reframe patient acquisition as a design challenge to improve consistency and reliability in support program enrollment

Effective care coordination is essential to ensuring timely patient access to therapies, yet challenges in communication and collaboration across stakeholder groups, such as healthcare providers (HCPs), specialty pharmacies (SPs), manufacturers and hubs, can create barriers to efficiency and outcomes. This session explores strategies to foster seamless collaboration, streamline processes and establish best practices for communication across all stakeholders involved in the patient journey.

• Navigate the complexities of care coordination across HCPs, SPs, manufacturers and hubs to ensure alignment and efficiency
• Identify strategies to streamline referral processes, triage and prescription handoffs to reduce delays and improve accuracy
• Establish best practices for communication and collaboration across stakeholder groups to reduce administrative burden and enhance visibility into the patient journey
• Explore innovative approaches to distribution models, including contracting with fewer SPs, integrating IDN (Integrated Delivery Network) SPs and tailoring patient support programs to meet diverse needs

This session takes a deep dive into the tailored strategies needed to optimize hub models for medical versus pharmacy benefit structures, addressing their unique challenges. With a focus on adapting to payer-driven policies and balancing buy-and-bill versus specialty pharmacy models, attendees explore how to enhance patient access, streamline provider workflows and address the complexities of benefit verification, prior authorization and reimbursement.

• Address the challenges associated with buy-and-bill vs. specialty pharmacy models and explore best practices to optimize your program accordingly
• Evaluate the impact of payer-driven policies, such as white bagging and copay accumulators, on hub operations and patient access
• Understand the differing role of field teams when supporting products under medical vs. pharmacy benefit