The changing healthcare landscape has pushed marketers’ efforts toward patient-centric marketing. As patients take an active role in selecting and switching therapies, pharmaceutical organizations are gearing to educate, communicate and engage patients throughout the patient journey. Marketing drives a majority of patient support programs but several non-marketing groups play critical roles in the overall patient advocacy initiatives for the company. Government Affairs and Public Policy are among the many functions conducting activities and initiatives to positively impact the patient journey. Best Practices, LLC undertook a study, “Patient-Focused Support: How Government Affairs & Public Policy Groups Support the Patient Journey” to capture leading insights on the level and type of support that Government Affairs and Public Policy functions provide to positively impact the patient journey. Research findings provide benchmarks around the activities, timing and funding involvement of Government Affairs and Public Policy groups towards patient advocacy and awareness. Read more at: http://www.best-in-class.com/bestp/domrep.nsf/products/patient-focused-support-how-govt-affairs&public-policygroups-support-the-patient-journey?OpenDocument

1. Patient-Focused Support:
How Gov’t Affairs & Public Policy Groups
Support the Patient Journey
Best Practices, LLC Strategic Benchmarking Research

2. Table of Contents
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 Executive Summary pp. 3-4
 Research Overview pp. 4
 Participating Companies pp. 5-6
 Key Findings pp. 7-10
 Patient-Focused Support: Activities & Timing pp. 11-22
 Patient-Focused Support: Funding pp. 23-30
 About Best Practices, LLC pp. 31

3. Topics Included:Study Overview
 Patient-Focused Support: Activities
& Timing
 Scope
 Number of Product Supported
 Activities
 Timing by Phase
 Patient-Focused Support: Funding
 Investment by Function
 Investment Trends
 Investment Levels
Research Objective: Patient engagement is a
critical success factor in the pharmaceutical
business today, and Government Affairs and Public
Policy are among many functions conducting
activities and initiatives to positively impact the
"patient journey.”
This benchmarking survey examines key support
tactics and activities by which leading Government
Affairs and Public Policy groups support patients.
Methodology: Best Practices, LLC engaged 16
Public Policy and Government Affairs leaders at 15
life sciences companies through a benchmarking
survey instrument. In addition, research analysts
conducted deep-dive executive interviews to
collect qualitative data and insights.
Research Project Objectives, Methodology & Results
Best Practices, LLC conducted this benchmarking survey to capture industry metrics on
the level and type of support that Government Affairs and Public Policy (abbreviated as
“GA/PP”) functions provide to programs and initiatives designed to engage patients.
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4. Participants Represent 15 Leading Healthcare Companies
Benchmark Class:
Sixteen survey respondents from 15 companies participated in this study. The majority of
study participants worked at either the director, senior director or vice president level.
Almost all study participants worked in either Government Affairs or Public Policy roles.
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5. Companies with Chronic Care Therapies Are Highly
Active Along Key Support Fronts
Among the best-represented therapeutic areas examined in the GA/PP study were Diabetes
and Oncology, where 33% of benchmark companies are actively engaged with advocacy,
payer, legislative and other community groups.
(n=16)
What is the primary therapeutic area in which your Gov't Affairs/Public Policy conducts patient engagement activities?
[e.g., Cardiology, Endocrinology/Diabetes, Oncology]
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Therapeutic Areas Represented
7%
13%
13%
13%
20%
27%
27%
33%
33%
Other area
Immunology
Rare Diseases
Respiratory
Infectious Disease
Cardiology
Neurology
Oncology
Diabetes
*Others areas include:
Mental Health,
Ophthalmology,
Rheumatology, Urology, &
Transplantation

6. Seek High GA/PP Impact With Advocacy Groups
GA/PP groups juggle a host of activities and programs designed to improve patient treatment decisions.
Partnering with patient advocacy groups was the most frequent tactic, occurring at 87% of companies.
Two-thirds of the industry are also active in community outreach programs (e.g., screening events),
influencing payer policy, and influencing federal disease policy. Though slightly less common, a majority
of GA/PP groups also work to influence state legislation (60%) and disease guidelines expansion (53%).
(n=15)
Which of the following patient-focused activities and programs does your Gov't Affairs/Public Policy group manage or
support? [Choose all that apply]
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Patient Engagement Activities Conducted:
13%
53%
60%
67%
67%
67%
87%
Other activities
Influencing disease guidelines expansion
Influencing STATE legislation around disease
policy and program
Influencing FEDERAL legislation around disease
policy and programs
Influencing payer policy
Community outreach programs (e.g., screening
events, partnerships, sponsorships)
Partnerships w/ patient advocacy groups

7. 60% Of GA/PP Groups Do Not Fund Engagement
Directly
Though all benchmarked GA/PP groups are highly active in driving patient engagement, only 40%
actually fund these programs themselves. The other 60% of GA/PP groups receive funding from
elsewhere in the organization, most often from a central Marketing function or from business units. For
the GA/PP groups who invest spend resources directly to engagement activities, the percentage
allocation of total GA/PP budget ranged from 1% - 30%, per three responding peer companies.
(n=15)
Does the budget for your Gov't Affairs/Public Policy function include funds for any of the patient engagement activities
and initiatives listed above? [Choose one]
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Patient Engagement Activities Funding from
GA/PP Function
Yes, 40%
No, 60%
The percentage allocation of
total GA/PP budget to
engagement activities ranged
from 1% - 30%, per three
responding peer companies.

8. Best Practices, LLC
6350 Quadrangle Drive, Suite 200
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
www.best-in-class.com
About Best Practices, LLC
Best Practices, LLC is a research and consulting firm that conducts work based on the
simple yet profound principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic
performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics, and winning
strategies of world-class companies.
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