Oct 27, 2025
At Precision AQ, we know that navigating patient access challenges requires more than data—it takes real-world expertise. That’s why we’ve launched our Meet Our Access Experience Team series, introducing the industry insiders who help life science companies anticipate payer challenges, optimize access strategies, and accelerate time to therapy.
Meet Andrew Cournoyer, RPh, MBA, Senior Vice President and Head of the Access Experience Team at Precision AQ. With over 25 years of experience in the managed care payer industry, Andrew brings deep expertise in Medicare access strategies, innovative contracting, and specialty drug management. Let’s hear from Andrew.
Q&A with Andrew Cournoyer
Q: Can you share a bit about your background and areas of specialty?
I’ve spent more than 25 years in the managed care payer industry, including over 15 years in health plan settings at nationally and regionally recognized organizations. My expertise spans Medicare access strategies, rebate and innovative contracting, and commercial and specialty drug management across both pharmacy and medical benefits. I’ve helped clients develop differentiated value propositions, design innovative contracts, and navigate the impact of legislative actions on the healthcare ecosystem. I’m also a skilled moderator and have led training workshops for field-based account executives.
Q: Where did you work prior to Precision AQ?
Before joining Precision AQ, I served as Head of Formulary and Utilization Management at Aetna Medicare, where I led clinical strategy and administration of drug formularies across all Medicare business lines. Prior to Aetna, I held roles at Cigna and Tufts Health Plan, focusing on commercial formulary management, value-add program creation, and specialty drug management.
I hold an MBA from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut. I’m also a registered pharmacist.
Q: What unique perspectives do you bring when it comes to ensuring patients can access life-changing therapies?
Having spent my entire payer career within health plans, I take a broad, C-suite-level approach to access strategies. Beyond clinical merit, I evaluate how each drug affects economic drivers, total cost of care, and quality metric performance. My experience as a Medicare formulary decision-maker gives me a strong understanding of the senior population—many of whom live on fixed incomes and take four to five times more prescriptions than younger patients.
Q: Which healthcare trends aren’t getting enough attention?
Affordability for seniors deserves more attention. While it’s a focus of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and other initiatives, analytics often show that only a small percentage of beneficiaries are truly impacted. For example, although the IRA lowered the out-of-pocket cap to $2,000, only 13–15% of non–low-income members are expected to reach that threshold. Meanwhile, legislative actions are increasing premiums and deductibles, diluting the intended affordability improvements.
Another overlooked trend is the shrinking pool of drugs driving rebates and discounts. Patent cliffs from 2010–2018 removed many blockbuster non-specialty drugs from rebate contribution, leaving specialty drugs—used by just 2–4% of the population—to fuel the system. As these drugs lose exclusivity and rebate pressures peak, payers face mounting liabilities from the IRA with fewer rebates to offset rising costs. Something has to give, and health plans must rethink their expenditure forecasts.
Q: Which trends will reshape healthcare in the next 1–3 years?
Artificial intelligence is the most transformative trend in healthcare. I’m particularly interested in how AI will enable earlier disease diagnosis and influence treatment guidelines. Earlier intervention often leads to better outcomes, but it may also shift guidelines toward more innovative or personalized treatments. The interplay between AI-assisted diagnosis and treatment selection will significantly impact how therapies are assessed and valued.
Q: What are you most passionate about in healthcare?
I’m passionate about mentoring students interested in non-traditional pharmacy careers, especially in managed care. I’ve worked with faculty at my alma mater, the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, and advised their Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) chapter. Over the past three years, I’ve helped coach their P&T competition team to two first-place finishes and one second-place finish. This involvement has inspired me to take on a larger role in AMCP, and I now serve on the board of directors for the Northeast AMCP affiliate.
Q: What do you like most about working at Precision AQ?
I’ve been at Precision AQ for over 10 years—my longest tenure at any organization. What keeps me here is the people and the culture. I work with some of the smartest individuals I’ve ever met, and the breadth of expertise is incredible. But what stands out most is the humility—there are no egos here, just teamwork and camaraderie.
Q: What should life science organizations prioritize in innovation?
Life science organizations need to embrace change and collaborate closely with governance teams to push boundaries in a compliant way. Often, brand and marketing teams have different philosophies than governance committees, so innovation must start with aligning those perspectives.
Innovation also requires synergy between stakeholders. Market access teams and healthcare provider teams must work in concert, not in silos. Access decisions directly influence point-of-care choices, so alignment is essential.
Beyond AI, other areas deserve attention—especially health economics and outcomes research (HEOR). As drug categories become saturated, data will be key to differentiation and guideline adoption. Evidence generation must be strategic, with a clear understanding of how stakeholders—payers, providers, governance boards, and guideline committees—will interpret and use that data.
About Precision AQ’s Access Experience Team
Precision AQ’s Access Experience Team (AET), originally launched in 2009, was created to bridge the gap between payers and life sciences companies, offering deep insight into access decision-making. Comprising more than 25 former access decision-makers from prominent managed care organizations, specialty pharmacies, and health plans, the AET brings firsthand experience to payer strategies, reimbursement barriers, and evolving policies. As an integrated part of Precision AQ, the AET helps clients translate payer practices and market access insights into actionable strategies to improve patient access.
Want to connect? Reach out to andrew.cournoyer@precisionaq.com