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 Angie Norell, PharmD, BCOP, CSP, Senior Director, Access Experience Team. With board certifications in Oncology and Specialty Pharmacy, she brings 25+ years of experience in managed care, hospital system oncology, and specialty pharmacy settings. Let’s hear from Angie.
Q&A with Angie Norrell
Q: Can you share a bit about your background and areas of specialty?
I am a licensed pharmacist with clinical, product, and operational experience. My expertise includes medical and pharmacy benefit management, value-based care (VBC), drug coverage policy and formulary design, clinical pathways development, 340B program management, product innovation, and sales across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid lines of business.
Q: Where did you work prior to Precision AQ?
I worked at Optum for 6+ years leading clinical strategy and product development for oncology utilization management (UM), case management (CM) and centers of excellence (COE) product offerings. I also have 15 years of hospital system pharmacy operations and clinical program leadership experience at Piedmont Healthcare, plus experience in UM at Kaiser Permanente.
Q: What unique perspectives do you bring when it comes to ensuring patients can access life-changing therapies?
My insight into access challenges is informed by my experience in 3 key areas:
Product: I’m well-versed in developing unique value propositions, creating go-to-market strategies, and communicating value to key stakeholders.
Managed care: I’ve seen what health plans and PBMs consider when deciding about UM requirements, formulary tiering, treatment pathways, preferred products, site-of-care options, and benefit steerage strategies for a given drug.
Health system: This provided an up-close look at those on the frontlines who are navigating administrative burdens, staffing shortages, formulary variations, drug spend, and declining reimbursements.
Q: How has earning your board certification in oncology helped your clients more effectively overcome access obstacles in oncology?
This allows me to bring an added layer of credibility and trust in my ability to apply clinical expertise coupled with a payer viewpoint when guiding clients toward the best strategies.
Q: Which healthcare trends aren’t getting enough attention?
A lack of providers prevents patients from scheduling routine care, leading to unnecessary use of hospital resources. Additionally, healthcare providers are over-burdened with administrative tasks, diverting them from patient-centered care.
Q: Which trends will reshape healthcare in the next 1-3 years?
Three key trends will transform how we care for patients and develop medical breakthroughs:
Q: What are you most passionate about in healthcare?
Patient-centered care. The patient journey should be at the forefront of all decisions, from manufacturer clinical trials and drug development, to managed care coverage policies and plan design, to provider treatment planning and care delivery.
Q: What do you like most about working at Precision AQ?
I’m fortunate to be part of a talented team of innovators and thought leaders with diverse expertise in their respective fields. I look forward to combining our skills and insights as we expand patient access on a larger scale and ensure patients receive the treatment they need when they need it.
Q: What should life science organizations prioritize in innovation?
Early adoption of AI/ML will gain a clear competitive edge. Manufacturers can identify unmet needs and targets for drug development and increase clinical trial success rates. And AI/ML will also enhance the ability to analyze real-world data, identify candidates for clinical trials, predict treatment responders and adverse events, and extrapolate outcomes to broader populations.
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 Angelica.Norrell@PrecisionAQ.com