Meet
Ekemini Isaiah

Ekemini advises a broad array of healthcare clients on the impact of federal and state health policy developments on their business priorities and policy engagement strategies.

Her background in federal health reform, comparative health systems, and the social determinants of health are critical as she works with clients on topics including drug pricing, physician payment, Medicare reimbursement, patient access, and other healthcare reforms.

Prior to joining Avalere, Ekemini worked as an associate at Sachs Policy Group, a health policy consulting firm in New York City, where she supported clients with state and federal regulatory analyses and oversaw grant projects for clients that arose from the New York State Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment program. Ekemini also worked as a visiting research scholar at the London School of Economics in the Personal Social Services Research Unit analyzing long-term care systems, interventions, and policy measures to reduce dependency cost effectively across the European Union.

Ekemini earned an MPH in health policy and management from New York University and a BS from Cornell University in biology and society.

Authored Content

April 26, 2021 | Insights & Analysis > Drug Pricing

Pending ASP Changes Impact Payments & May Shape Future FDA Filings
Beginning July 1, 2021, average sales price (ASP) calculations for Part B drugs with an additional non-covered self-administered formulation could alter Medicare reimbursement.
January 21, 2021 | Insights & Analysis > Drug Pricing

MFN Model Would Have Had a Major Impact on Certain Providers
New Avalere analysis finds that the the Most Favored Nation (MFN) Model would have a significant negative impact on Medicare providers that furnish Part B drugs—especially in oncology and rheumatology—and those in rural areas.
September 17, 2020 | Insights & Analysis > Drug Pricing

“Most Favored Nation” EO Creates New Questions on International Prices
On September 13, the Trump Administration released the much-anticipated “Most Favored Nation” (MFN) Executive Order (EO), calling for models that would cap the price Medicare pays for select Part B and D drugs. The President’s EO underscores the administration’s continued focus on reducing prescription drug price disparities between the US and other developed countries.
August 6, 2020 | Insights & Analysis > Drug Pricing

EOs Direct Drug Pricing Action, Raise Additional Questions
The administration’s 4 drug pricing EOs direct agency action across a host of policy areas, including Part D rebates, Part B reimbursement and pricing, 340B drug discounts, and drug importation. Next steps and a timeline for agency action will vary by EO dependent on the specific policies to be advanced or finalized. In the interim, stakeholders should explore outstanding questions and contemplate near- and longer-term policy scenarios.
May 29, 2020 | Press Releases > COVID-19 Intel Center

Decline in Oncology and Immunology Treatment Amid COVID-19 Pandemic
Recent Avalere analysis finds decreases in utilization of oncology and autoimmune treatments across all care settings since the onset of the health crisis.
March 31, 2020 | Insights & Analysis > Federal Policy

Select Part D Plans Have Higher PMPM Spending for LIS in Most Protected Classes
As plans continue to assess the proposed changes to their liability in the Medicare Part D benefit, understanding variations in spending by enrollee can help elucidate how policy changes might affect their spending. This Avalere analysis examines a subset of MA-PD and PDP plans with at least 75% of their enrollment comprising those with LIS. This analysis aims to quantify spending on drugs within the 6 protected classes for low-income subsidy (LIS) and non-LIS beneficiaries in this subset of PDP and MA-PD plans.
January 14, 2020 | Insights & Analysis > Federal Policy

CMMI’s Financial Impact on Medicare Spending Challenging to Project (Updated)
CMMI’s impact on Medicare spending has not reached earlier projections by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), demonstrating the difficulty in projecting savings from untested and future unknown alternative payment models
October 7, 2019 | Insights & Analysis > Federal Policy

SFC Drug Pricing Proposal Would Increase Part D Manufacturer Discounts for Some Therapeutic Areas
Avalere analysis finds that tying Medicare Part D manufacturer discounts to utilization in the catastrophic phase instead of in the coverage gap would have differential impacts by disease area.
August 13, 2019 | Insights & Analysis > Federal Policy

The VA National Formulary for Top Medical Benefit Drugs Is Narrower than Current Medicare Part B Drug Coverage
Avalere analysis finds that 24 of the top 50 non-vaccine Part B drugs are not on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Formulary.
June 13, 2019 | Insights & Analysis > Federal Policy

Is Tiered Provider Reimbursement on the Horizon for Medicare Part B?
As policymakers explore opportunities to reform Medicare Part B, a tiered average sales price (ASP) add-on payment may be under consideration to align system incentives and curb spending.
December 27, 2018 | Insights & Analysis > Drug Pricing

International Price Index Model’s Impact on Patients and Providers
New Avalere analysis finds that most seniors in Medicare would not see a reduction in their out-of-pocket costs as a result of the International Price Index Model.