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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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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The Joint Commission’s updated accreditation manual is designed to simplify requirements, enhance clarity, and better support healthcare organizations in survey preparation. In this episode of VerifiedRx, host Carolyn Liptak is joined by Dr. Robert Campbell of the Joint Commission and Diana Scott of Vizient to unpack the most significant changes. From the shift to National Performance Goals and medication safety priorities to the latest challenges in compounding, labeling, and hazardous drug handling, the conversation highlights practical insights to help pharmacy leaders stay compliant and survey-ready.

Guest speakers:

Robert Campbell, PharmD, BCSCP

Sr. Director, Standards Interpretation, Accreditation Decision Management,Medication Safety Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations

Joint Commission

Diana Scott, MHA, RN, CPHQ

Principal, Regulatory and Accreditation Services

Vizient

Host:

Carolyn Liptak, , BS Pharm, MBA 

Vizient

Show Notes:

[01:16-01:51] Diana and Robert Backgrounds

[01:52-02:43] Changes made to the hospital and critical access hospital manuals

[02:44-03:09] Changes to the chapters themselves

[03:10-04:08] National Performance Goals and elaborate on those that are relevant to medication safety and pharmacy services

[04:09-05:15] The top medication management challenges

[05:16-06:29] Pain management not being aligned and titration orders

[06:30-06:56] Insufficient communication between pharmacists, prescribers and nurses when it comes to medication orders

[06:57-08:02] Themes around labeling requirements for stored medications

[08:03-08:46] Anything different in removing expired meds from patient care areas and in the pharmacy this area than previous years

[08:47-10:58] Issues related to storing meds specifically per the package insert

[10:59-11:55] Common issues seen inside the pharmacy regarding sterile compounding, noncompliance include hand hygiene, garbing, PPE, and cleaning and disinfecting

[11:56-13:12] More specifics in those area the physical environment and facility cleanliness along with cleaning and disinfection practices

[13:13-14:55] Explaination of how joint Commission defines and evaluates immediate use compounding

[14:56-16:09] The minimum required elements for immediate use compounding competency

[16:10-17:12] Compounding competencies besides immediate use

[17:13-17:54] Expectations for environmental services training

[17:55- 20:14] Concerns around hazardous drugs

[20:15- 21:14] Additional information

Links | Resources:

Joint Commission: THE NEW STANDARD: Accreditation 360

For Members: On-Demand webinar and CE information

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