Isaac Ussery, a 20-year-old with a wry sense of humor, has lived with severe hemophilia B since he was a newborn. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder that prevents blood from clotting normally.
For Isaac, who lives in Dothan, Alabama, bleeds can be triggered by injuries or can happen spontaneously, without warning—and can quickly become a crisis.
- Centers for Disease Control hemophilia data shows an estimated 33,000 males and 2,700 women in the U.S. are living with hemophilia, with experiences ranging from rare emergencies to frequent, acute episodes requiring time sensitive therapy.
For patients living with complex or rare conditions, the difference between managing a diagnosis and being overwhelmed by it often comes down to whether the team supporting them understands the nuances of their condition, their therapy, and the realities of their daily lives.
CVS Specialty Centers of Excellence deliver personalized care
At CVS Specialty, one way we enable that level of personalization is through our 30+ dedicated condition and therapy specific Centers of Excellence (CoEs) for complex, rare and ultrarare diseases.
- CVS Specialty CoEs are staffed by specially-trained pharmacists, technicians, nurses, and patient and physician advocacy professionals bringing together national scale, deep clinical expertise, and trusted relationships to help simplify care for patients across the country.
“Personalized care in specialty pharmacy means recognizing that all patients have unique challenges. Our CVS Specialty Centers of Excellence exist to understand and act on those differences with deep clinical knowledge supporting best-in-class care,” says Ashley Czonstkowsky, VP, Coram & CVS Specialty Therapy Operations.
The impact of this model becomes clear when you take a close look at one of the many examples of patients managing the unique challenges that come with complex conditions.
How CVS Specialty CoEs help ensure medication access
For patients like Isaac, personalized care means he can rely on getting his specialty pharmacy medications when he needs them, and without friction.
Through CVS Specialty’s Bleeding Disorders Center of Excellence, he has a dedicated single point of contact (SPoC): pharmacy services representative Kyle Simons, whose specialized training and ongoing CoE resources ensure a deep understanding of hemophilia, its therapies, and best practices for enabling fast medication access.
Kyle knows how Isaac’s condition behaves over time, understands his history, monitors utilization patterns, and can quickly escalate refills and prior authorization requests when Isaac’s needs change.
When “typical” care doesn’t apply
During a recent knee bleed, Isaac required infusions every two hours, around the clock - a protocol that can last for weeks as it gradually tapers.
“'Melanie' is acting up - as in, my melon-sized knee,” Isaac jokes. “But seriously, I don’t have the luxury of being treated like a standard case.”
Episodes like this can require using, in a matter of weeks, what might otherwise be prescribed as a three-month supply of medication.
- To someone without hemophilia training, that level of utilization could raise questions.
- For patients like Isaac, rapid use during an acute bleed can be critical to preventing hospitalization or long-term joint damage. Early and speedy refills are often necessary.
Recognizing when this level of use is clinically appropriate - rather than a red flag - allows CVS Specialty’s CoE teams to act quickly within clinical and coverage protocols, avoiding unnecessary friction during emergencies.
“My goal is to build trust and stay closely connected with my patients, so they don’t worry about their specialty pharmacy needs being met,“ says Kyle. “It’s one less thing on their plate - and it lets them focus on the things that matter most to them.”
That confidence makes a meaningful difference for Isaac. When his condition allows, he spends time doing what he loves most: volunteering as a disc jockey at two local Christian radio stations - focusing less on logistics and more on staying connected to his community.
Why Centers of Excellence matter in specialty pharmacy
Hemophilia is just one example of a broader truth about specialty pharmacy for chronic conditions: even within a single diagnosis, patients can fall anywhere along a wide spectrum - from those with severe, unpredictable needs to those who may not require maintenance therapy at all, but who still need education, planning, and emergency medication on hand.
CVS Specialty’s 30+ Centers of Excellence are designed to support the full spectrum of patient needs through highly personalized, condition- and therapy specific care, including:
- Specialized, condition- and therapy dedicated CareTeams. Our CoE pharmacists, technicians and nurses complete rigorous condition specific training and ongoing education to anticipate risks and coordinate timely interventions.
- Deep knowledge across therapies - from established to emerging: Our teams are experienced across oral, infused, injectable, and emerging therapies, including gene therapy, supporting continuity of care as treatment options evolve.
- Personalized education for patients and caregivers: Tailored education starting with the first prescription, aligned to disease severity, therapy type, and life stage helps patients stay informed and confident in their care.
- Connected data and predictive tools: Advanced analytics help surface risks early, prioritize outreach, and reduce administrative friction, creating additional opportunity for meaningful patient and provider support.
- Trusted patient and physician liaison teams: Dedicated liaison teams help navigate access, coverage, and administrative complexity across the care journey.
- Single points of contact for the most complex care: Designated single points of contact provide continuity, coordination, and trusted relationships over time for patients with the most clinically complex needs.
By aligning deep clinical experience, dedicated CareTeams and trust, our CVS Specialty Centers of Excellence help personalize care across even the most complex conditions.
