The recent release of Vyepti (eptinezumab-jjmr) may be a game changer for migraine patients and give neurologists a new opportunity for practice growth

Independent neurologists face a number of challenges; reimbursement has declined year-over-year. The administrative burden related to increasingly complex payor requirements continues to chip away at the bottom line. A majority of neurologists report to experiencing burnout. It is no surprise many neurologists are considering selling their practice to hospitals. And this was occurring before the impact of Covid-19. However, not all is gloom and doom, a new breakthrough drug by Lundbeck promises to changes the way migraines are treated and offer an opportunity for neurologists to grow their practices.

Lundbeck’s recently released Vyepti could be a great option

Migraines affect over 38 million Americans. There are established treatment options for Migraine patients, though many experts question their efficacy. However, the recent FDA approval and launch of Vypeti could prove an important development in the treatment of migraines. The drug is infused intravenously every three months over 30 minutes.

If you have decided Vypeti is an appropriate option for your patients, now comes the hard part; where are those patients infused? Two common options for infusion patients include home infusion or referring the patient to the local hospital infusion center. Both options have their benefits, though they should be researched carefully. Will you have full visibility into the patients’ care; do you know what protocols those facilities and nurses are following; will they be treated promptly? Will those options be costly for the patient?

‍A third option is to infuse the patient in your office; benefits to in-office infusions are numerous; improved patient physician relationship; increased visibility into the full continuum of care.

The case for treating migraine patients in your office

If you have decided you want to infuse these patients your office, there are several things to consider. Do you have the staff and expertise required to manage the prior-authorization? Do you have sufficient resources to manage the purchase and management of inventory. There are numerous other questions in setting up your own in-office infusion center. If you get it right, your patients will be happy and the infusion center could meaningfully contribute to the growth of your practice. Biologic drugs are notoriously expensive. A few mistakes can cost thousands of dollars and can cause the infusion center to be a burden on your bottom line.

A Better Option

Another option is partnering with a management company, like OI Infusion. A management company can set up and manage your in-office infusion center. OI Infusion has worked with dozens of neurology practices to set up and manage in-office infusions, removing the risk and confusion with setting up and operating the in-office infusion center. If you are interested in learning if an in-office infusion center is right for your practice, or if a management company could be beneficial, please schedule a consultation.

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