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By: Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence
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 Delivering short doses of insight for hospitals’ frontline pharmacy professionals, the Vizient pharmacy team brings together experts to verify best practices for navigating today’s pharmacy practice challenges and accelerating career growth. It’s a prescription for success, delivered by the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Economics Hygiene & Healthy Living Management Management & Leadership Physical Illness & Disease Science
Episodes
  • Inside the Clean Room - Safely Handling Cell & Gene Therapies

    Inside the Clean Room - Safely Handling Cell & Gene Therapies
    Oct 14 2025
    From CAR-T therapies to viral vectors, cell and gene treatments are redefining the boundaries of pharmacy practice—but with innovation comes complexity. Host Carolyn Liptak welcomes Dr. Mark Wiencek, Principal Microbiologist with the Technical Services Group at Contec, and Dr. Amanda Frick, Senior Clinical Manager of Market Intelligence at Vizient, to break down the challenges of compounding these advanced therapies. Listen in as they discuss real-world risk assessments, biosafety considerations, and how hospital pharmacies can safely manage these groundbreaking yet high-risk treatments. Guest speakers: Mark Wiencek, PhD Principal Microbiologist, Technical Services Group Contec Amanda Frick, PharmD, BCPS Senior Clinical Manager, Market Intelligence Vizient Host: Carolyn Liptak, MBA, RPh Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Show Notes: [01:02-01:51] Mark shares his background and experience in microbiology [01:52-04:04] Overview of the types of cell and gene therapies (CGT) currently used in clinical practice [04:05-05:14] Which CGT therapies are most applicable to pharmacy compounding and why [05:15-10:29] Things not on the NIOSH list and the risks [10:30-12:03] Evaluating whether viral vectors can penetrate intact skin and the true occupational exposure risks [12:04-13:18] If hazards are not defined by the NIOSH list, how should these CGT hazards be classified [13:19-15:03] Determining the safest environment for compounding CGT therapies [15:04-20:14] Best practices for decontamination, disinfection, and viral vector handling [20:15-20:59] Do you need a dedicated biosafety cabinet for CGT therapies [21:00-22:55] Recommended resources for further learning Links | Resources: Blind and colleagues (Nationwide): Click hereWang and colleagues (Stanford): Click hereCONTEC HEALTHCARE WEBINAR Using Bugs as Drugs: Compounding Viral Vectors in Cell & Gene Therapy for Hospital Pharmacies, Mark Wiencek, May 13, 2025: Click hereBlind, J.E., Ghosh, S., Niese, T.D., Gardner, J.C., Stack-Simone, S., Dean, A. and Washam, M., 2024. A comprehensive literature scoping review of infection prevention and control methods for viral-mediated gene therapies. Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology, 4(1), p.e15. Click hereDeramoudt, L., Pinturaud, M., Bouquet, P., Goffard, A., Simon, N. and Odou, P., 2024. Method for the detection and quantification of viral contamination during the preparation of gene therapy drugs in a hospital pharmacy. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 81(12), pp.615-621. Click hereKorte, J., Mienert, J., Hennigs, J.K. and Körbelin, J., 2021. Inactivation of adeno-associated viral vectors by oxidant-based disinfectants. Human Gene Therapy, 32(13-14), pp.771-781. Click here (abstract only; full article available for purchase)Martino, J.G., McConnell, K., Greathouse, L., Rosario, B.D. and Jaskowiak, J.M., 2024. Cellular therapy site-preparedness: Inpatient pharmacy implementation at a large academic medical center. Journal of Oncology Pharmacy Practice, 30(8), pp.1442-1449. Click herePenzien, C., 2023. Safe handling of BioSafety drugs and live virus vaccines. Pharm Purch Prod, 20(4), p.12. Click herePetrich, J., Marchese, D., Jenkins, C., Storey, M. and Blind, J., 2020. Gene replacement therapy: a primer for the health-system pharmacist. Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 33(6), pp.846-855. Click hereWang, A., Ngo, Z., Yu, S.J. and MacDonald, E.A., 2025. Implementing standard practices in the safe handling of gene therapy and biohazardous drugs in a health-system setting. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, p.zxaf026. Click here VerifiedRx Listener Feedback Survey: We would love to hear from you - Please click here Subscribe Today! Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube RSS Feed
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    24 mins
  • Tapping into NTAP

    Tapping into NTAP
    Sep 30 2025

    New data from the summer Vizient Spend Management Outlook show that in the inpatient space, high-cost drugs, especially CAR-T treatments like Yescarta and Breyanzi are major drivers of drug spend. To help offset these costs, certain therapies may qualify for additional reimbursement through the New Technology Add-On payment (NTAP), a program that supports innovations that substantially improve care for Medicare beneficiaries. Carolyn Liptak, Pharmacy Executive Director at the Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence joins host Stacy Lauderdale, Associate Vice President of Evidence-Based Medicine and Drug Information at Vizient to cover the purpose of this add-on payment, the criteria necessary for drugs to qualify and strategies to capture its full value.

    Guest Speaker:

    Carolyn Liptak, MBA, RPh Pharmacy Executive Director Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence

    Host: Stacy Lauderdale, PharmD, BCP  Associate Vice President Vizient Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence  Verified Rx Host

    Show Notes:

    [01:02-03:38] Overview of NTAP and why CMS created the program

    [03:39-05:02] How DRG recalibration depends on broad adoption

    [05:03-07:17] Criteria for medications to quality for NTAP status

    [07:18-08:24] Who determines whether a therapy represents substantial clinical improvement

    [08:25-10:05] The value NTAP provides to hospitals

    [10:06-11:51] How to locate products that are eligible for NTAP

    [11:52-16:22] Best practices to ensure that NTAP payment is captured when the drug is used

    [16:23-17:22] Resources for additional information

    Links | Resources:

    • Payment Updates: Preparing for 2026 - On Demand
    • New Medical Services and New Technologies
    • FY 2026 IPPS Final Rule Home Page
    • MAC Implementation File 8 (ZIP) – FY 2026 New Technology Add-on Payment
    • CMS Web Pricer

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    18 mins
  • GLN Changes You Can’t Ignore

    GLN Changes You Can’t Ignore
    Sep 16 2025

    As the Drug Supply Chain Security Act dispenser exemption period winds down, the Vizient Standards implementation team announced an important change to the Vizient Global Location Number (GLN) Management program. The data standards team will inactivate unmanaged GLNs, which will impact pharmacies and other providers who are not currently managing their Vizient assigned GLNs. Two experts leading that conversation, Carl Henshaw, Senior Director, Data Operations, Enterprise Information and Data Management, and Dawn Burtram, Lead Analyst, Standards Implementation at Vizient join host Carolyn Liptak, Pharmacy Executive Director in the Center for Pharmacy Practice Excellence at Vizient to discuss implications.

    Guest speakers:

    Dawn Bertram, MBA

    Lead Analyst Standards Implementation

    Vizient

    Carl Henshaw

    Senior Director, Data Operations, Enterprise Information and Data Management

    Vizient

    Host: 

    Carolyn Liptak, MBA, BS Pharm

    Show Notes:

    [01:08-01:59] Dawn and Carl’s background

    [02:00-02:41] What exactly is a GLN and what does it mean to be self-managed

    [02:42-07:26] Who creates and maintains GLNs in this data hub and the three different GLN products

    [07:27-08:51] How to determine who actually enumerated the GLNs

    [08:52-10:20] Educating and preparing providers for the DSCSA compliance deadline

    [10:21-12:37] The recent decision to inactivate unmanaged GNS and why it's essential to maintaining the accuracy and reliability of GLN data

    [12:38-15:05] What it means to participate in our program and who's eligible to participate

    [15:06-17:51] Why the deadline of November 15th matters

    Links | Resources:

    Vizient GLN Learning Center

    GLN Management Process Education Session (E-Learning)

    VGMP Application

    GS1 What is a GLN and How Do I Get One? 

    Drug Supply Chain Security Act

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    18 mins
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